Full Job Description
Role Summary:
Specter Aerospace is seeking an Avionics Systems Engineer II/III to develop and integrate the avionics architecture for our supersonic and hypersonic flight vehicles, ensuring that power, control electronics, communications, sensors, and embedded computing function together as a cohesive flight system. A successful candidate will have prior experience defining system-level requirements and interfaces, integrating multi-disciplinary avionics subsystems, and supporting hardware bring-up and troubleshooting through test and flight operations.
Role Responsibilities
• Develop and maintain avionics system architecture, including power distribution, communications, grounding, and subsystem interfaces
• Support the integration of avionics subsystems, including flight computers, sensors, power electronics, control electronics, and instrumentation
• Translate vehicle-level requirements into system-level requirements, interface definitions, and verification plans
• Coordinate with electrical, mechanical, embedded software, GNC, and propulsion engineers to resolve system integration challenges
• Contribute to system-level hardware integration, bring-up, debugging, and troubleshooting during development and vehicle assembly
• Support design reviews and system-level trades to balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, and testability
• Develop and execute integration and qualification test plans, and translate results into design improvements
• Maintain system architecture, interface, and integration documentation
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to best practices in avionics system architecture and integration (Level III)
Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field
• 2+ years of relevant full-time experience (Level II) or 5+ years of relevant full-time experience (Level III) developing or integrating avionics or other high-reliability embedded electronic systems
• Experience with avionics system architecture, power distribution, or communications interfaces
• Familiarity with common aerospace interfaces and communication protocols (e.g., SPI, I²C, UART, CAN, Ethernet, RS-422/485, or similar)
• Comfort with hardware integration, system-level debugging, and root cause analysis in laboratory or test environments
• Familiarity with EMI/EMC, grounding, shielding, and electrical reliability considerations for aerospace systems
• Available for up to 10% travel for relevant ground and flight test activities
• Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance (U.S. Citizenship required)
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check
Preferred Qualifications:
• Active U.S. Secret clearance
• Previous experience developing or integrating avionics for aerospace, defense, spacecraft, or other high-reliability applications
• Experience with flight computers, telemetry, power distribution, or vehicle control electronics
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB design; preference for Altium Designer
• Familiarity with hardware-in-the-loop testing and avionics ground support equipment
• Familiarity with relevant IPC, military, or environmental testing standards
• Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, C, C++, or similar languages
Benefits at Specter:
• Competitive salary
• Opportunity for equity compensation
• Health and dental insurance
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Unlimited paid time off (PTO) policy
• Paid federal holidays and annual Holiday break