Job Title

Avionics & Payload Systems Engineer

Location

EDWARDS, CA 93523 US (Primary)

Category

Engineering, General Laborer

Job Type

Full-Time

Compensation Minimum (USD)

$100,000

Compensation Maximum (USD)

$140,000

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum Citizenship Status Required

U.S. Citizen

Security Clearance Required

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance

Job Description

• Employment Category: Full-Time/Exempt
• Location: On-site at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC), Edwards AFB, CA. Work performed in office, control room, and field environments.
• Typical Schedule: 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM, 9/80 compressed schedule.
• Work Environment: Work includes office/design environments and electronics laboratory environments during circuit card test and integration.
• Security Clearance: Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance
• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Salary: $100,000 - $140,000/yr

Job Summary

The Senior Electronics / Computer Engineer provides advanced engineering support for research aircraft and high-altitude platforms, including Global Hawk, at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC). This position supports the development, integration, verification, troubleshooting, and operational execution of avionics, power, instrumentation, and payload support systems for both flight and ground applications.

The engineer will translate project requirements into functional hardware and software solutions, supporting system design through installation, checkout, flight readiness, and mission execution. Responsibilities include system decomposition, avionics interface integration, power system development, verification and validation (V&V), and operational support during ground and flight test activities.

This role supports research aircraft integration from concept development through operational deployment in a dynamic flight-test environment.
Primary Responsibilities

Systems Development & Integration

• Translate project requirements into functional hardware and software solutions for avionics and payload systems.
• Decompose system-level requirements into subsystem electrical, avionics, and software requirements.
• Prepare interface control drawings, electrical schematics, wiring designs, and system documentation.
• Design sensor and system interfaces to avionics systems and associated ground systems.
• Specify and evaluate component and system hardware for procurement.
• Coordinate with vendors for troubleshooting, upgrades, and repair of avionics and payload support systems.
• Perform product development, bench checkout, integration, and troubleshooting in laboratory environments.
• Support verification and validation from ground operations through flight research.
• Participate in system safety processes and support airworthiness documentation and reviews.
• Serve as needed in the Control Room during ground and flight test operations.

Flight Instrumentation & Avionics Support

• Design, integrate, and test avionics and payload support systems including AC and DC power control systems, ARINC-429, Pulse Code Modulation (PCM), RS-422/485, and Ethernet-based architectures.
• Develop system and subsystem requirements for telemetry, data acquisition, signal conditioning, and communications systems.
• Perform avionics system checkout and support airworthiness qualification activities such as EMI/EMC compliance.
• Conduct system-level integration and ruggedization of components for flight environments.
• Perform system verification and validation testing and document results.
• Provide operational support during ground testing, flight testing, and mission execution.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software anomalies across integrated avionics and ground support systems.
• Support secure network architectures and satellite communications systems.
• Manage and operate Linux-based systems supporting payload and avionics networks.
• Configure and troubleshoot networks using Cisco CLI.
• Monitor network traffic using tools such as tcpdump and Wireshark and implement traffic management solutions.

Work is performed in office, laboratory, integration, hangar, and mission control environments supporting ground and flight test operations. Extended hours may be required during flight test campaigns or mission operations.
Key Benefits and Impact

• Directly support NASA research aircraft missions and advanced airborne payload development.
• Contribute to the integration and operational readiness of avionics and communications systems.
• Support real-time mission operations and high-visibility flight-test campaigns.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary NASA engineers, operators, and mission teams.

• Compensation & Benefits

• Schedule: M-F, 8-hrs/days
• 401K with up to 4% employer matching contribution
• 2 weeks (80 hrs/year) Paid Time Off (PTO), Federal holidays, and Sick Leave
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance, Short Term/Long Term Disability

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Physical Science and at least 7 years of relevant experience, or Advanced Degree in Engineering or Physical Science and at least 4 years of relevant experience.
• Experience generating electrical schematics and interface control drawings.
• Experience in design, integration, and testing of avionics and electronic systems.
• Experience with AC and DC power control systems.
• Experience integrating avionics interfaces including ARINC-429, PCM, RS-422/485, and Ethernet.
• Experience performing system verification and validation testing.
• Linux system management experience.
• Cisco Command Line Interface (CLI) proficiency.
• Network traffic monitoring and management experience.
• Hardware and software troubleshooting in complex integrated aerospace systems.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Active Secret clearance required at time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting high-altitude or unmanned aircraft systems.
• Experience supporting research aircraft or flight test programs.
• Experience with AutoCAD.
• Experience performing data analysis using MATLAB.
• Programming experience in C++, C#, and/or Python.
• Experience with satellite communications systems such as Iridium, Inmarsat, or Starlink.
• HAIPE experience.
• Experience in embedded systems development.
• Experience supporting Control Room operations during flight tests.