Avionics Engineer

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Space Information Labs is looking for a highly motivated Avionics Engineer to join our engineering team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the design, development, integration, and testing of aerospace avionics systems, including guidance, navigation and control (GNC), power distribution, data handling, and onboard communication subsystems. This role requires a systems-thinking mindset, hands-on hardware and software experience, and a passion for building reliable aerospace hardware.

• Responsibilities
• Avionics System Design & Development
• Architect avionics subsystems including flight computers, data buses, sensors, and actuator interfaces.
• Develop avionics hardware specifications, interface control documents (ICDs), and requirements.
• Support FPGA, microcontroller, and embedded system integration with spacecraft hardware.
• Systems Engineering & Integration
• Ensure avionics designs integrate seamlessly with aerospace platforms and their associated subsystems.
• Support requirements management, allocation, and verification for avionics subsystems.
• Conduct FMECA, fault protection analysis, and reliability assessments for critical avionics functions.
• Test & Verification
• Develop hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) testbeds for system verification.
• Support board bring-up, environmental testing (thermal / vacuum, vibration, EMI / EMC), and qualification campaigns.
• Contribute to validation of avionics subsystems during assembly, integration, and test (AIT) and pre-launch readiness.
• Collaboration & Technical Leadership
• Participate in design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) and provide detailed technical documentation.
• Collaborate with software, RF, propulsion, and mission operations teams to ensure end-to-end system compatibility.
• Provide mentorship to junior engineers and share domain knowledge across the engineering team.
• Experience
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in avionics design for aerospace or space systems
• Qualifications
• Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Required Skills :
• Strong knowledge of embedded systems, digital / analog electronics, and spacecraft data buses (e.g., RS-422, SpaceWire, MIL-STD-1553, CAN).
• Experience with spacecraft GNC avionics, including IMUs, star trackers, and actuators.
• Hands-on experience with schematic capture, PCB layout, and hardware debugging.
• Proficiency with avionics simulation and modeling tools (e.g., MATLAB / Simulink, ModelSim, SPICE).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Desired Skills :
• Background in fault-tolerant avionics architectures and autonomous fault management.
• Familiarity with FPGA / SoC-based avionics design and VHDL / Verilog development.
• Familiarity with space environment design constraints (radiation hardening, redundancy, power / thermal limits).
• Knowledge of flight software development processes, real-time operating systems (RTOS), and C / C++.
• Experience with DO-254, NASA, or ECSS avionics development standards.

Job Type : Full-time

Pay : $120,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year

Benefits :
• 401(k)
• 401(k) 4% Match
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s) :

• Are you eligible for a security clearance in the U.S.? This is a hard requirement.

Ability to Commute :

• Santa Maria, CA 93455 (Required)

Ability to Relocate :

• Santa Maria, CA 93455 : Relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Work Location : In person