Principal Avionics Systems Engineer, IPT Lead
Chaos Industries · El Segundo, United States +1 · 6h ago
CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats.
CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, and London. For more information, please visit www.chaosinc.com.
Role Overview:
We are seeking an experienced Principal Principal Avionics Systems Engineer who will own the end-to-end avionics architecture for the Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) program — spanning onboard (air vehicle) avionics and the associated Ground Control Station (GCS) — for an unmanned aircraft system. This role carries single-threaded technical ownership of the avionics system across both segments, ensuring the onboard avionics and GCS are designed, developed, integrated, and qualified as a coherent, interoperable system rather than as separately managed efforts. The ideal candidate brings direct unmanned aircraft system (UAS) experience, a strong systems-level view of air vehicle/ground segment interaction, and a producibility mindset suited to a modular, mass-producible aircraft architecture.Responsibilities:
- Own the overall avionics architecture spanning both the air vehicle (onboard avionics) and the Ground Control Station (GCS), ensuring end-to-end consistency across the air-ground system boundary.
- Define avionics system architecture including flight management, navigation, data links/command-and-control (C2) links, sensor/payload interfaces, power distribution to avionics, and health monitoring/diagnostics.
- Define and own the GCS architecture, including operator interfaces, mission planning functions, vehicle command/control functions, telemetry display, and data link ground equipment.
- Establish and maintain interface control documents (ICDs) governing the air-ground data link, command/telemetry protocols, and other critical avionics interfaces.
- Drive a modular avionics architecture (open architecture / modular open systems approach, where applicable) that supports interchangeable avionics line replaceable units (LRUs) and scalable configuration variants across the platform family.
- Lead design and integration of onboard avionics subsystems: flight control computer interfaces, navigation sensors (GPS/INS or equivalent), communications/data link equipment, avionics bus architecture (e.g., MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, Ethernet-based avionics buses), and payload/sensor integration interfaces.
- Define avionics packaging, wiring, and installation approach in coordination with Structures/Mechanical to support modular production and maintainability.
- Oversee avionics software/hardware integration with flight control, propulsion, and mission systems as applicable.
- Own GCS hardware and software architecture, including operator workstation design, mission planning and command/control software, and data link ground terminal integration.
- Ensure GCS human-machine interface (HMI) design supports safe, effective command and control of the unmanned aircraft across all mission phases (launch/takeoff, mission execution, recovery/landing).
- Define GCS interoperability requirements with relevant command and control networks, as applicable to the program's operational concept.
- Lead integration and test activities validating air vehicle/GCS interoperability prior to flight test and qualification.
- Apply design-for-manufacture and design-for-assembly (DFM/DFA) principles to avionics hardware design, packaging, and wiring harness architecture to enable high-rate, distributed production.
- Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Supply Chain to identify commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and modified-COTS avionics components that reduce cost, lead time, and supply chain risk at scale.
- Lead or oversee avionics system analysis including link budget analysis, latency/bandwidth analysis for the air-ground data link, avionics reliability/FMEA analysis, and electromagnetic environmental effects (E3)/EMI-EMC analysis.
- Define and execute the avionics and GCS test program (bench, hardware-in-the-loop/HWIL, ground, and flight test) required to substantiate the design.
- Support airworthiness/qualification activities in accordance with applicable military standards relevant to UAS avionics and command/control links (e.g., applicable MIL-STD/MIL-HDBK guidance, relevant spectrum/frequency approval processes).
- Serve as the senior technical authority for avionics (onboard and GCS) on the program, representing the discipline at Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), and government technical interchange meetings.
- Partner with Systems Engineering, Structures/Mechanical, Flight Controls, Software, Program Management, Manufacturing, and Quality to align avionics maturity with program schedule and cost targets.
- Some travel may be required to support flight test events, supplier visits, and government program reviews.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Avionics Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
- 15+ years of aircraft avionics design experience, with direct, hands-on experience on unmanned aircraft system (UAS) programs spanning both onboard avionics and Ground Control Station segments.
- Demonstrated experience owning or architecting the air-ground interface (command/control data link, telemetry, interface control documents) for a UAS program.
- Strong background in avionics system architecture, including navigation, communications/data links, and avionics bus architectures.
- Experience supporting avionics system test and integration, including hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) testing and flight test support.
- Familiarity with Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles as applied to avionics architecture.
Preferred Requirements:
- Direct experience with modular aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or multi-mission/multi-variant platform architectures.
- Experience designing avionics for distributed or multi-site production (as opposed to a single centralized production line).
- Experience with cybersecurity/Risk Management Framework (RMF) requirements for UAS avionics and GCS software.
- Experience with GCS human-machine interface (HMI) design and operator workflow for unmanned systems.
- Ability to obtain/maintain Secret/Top Secret/SCI clearance
Why CHAOS?
- Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
- Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
- Our Perks: Free daily lunch while you're working onsite, fully-stocked kitchen, unlimited PTO, casual dress code
- Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
- Team Growth: 500+ employees and counting across 5 global offices
The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.
Recruiting Agencies: CHAOS Industries does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach. Unsolicited submissions will not be reviewed or compensated.
#LI-onsite