Principal Avionics Systems Engineer, IPT Lead

CHAOS Industries, El Segundo, California +1

The role

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.

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Principal Avionics Systems Engineer, IPT Lead

CHAOS Industries, El Segundo, California +1

Posted pay

$198K–$300K

a year

Compared with similar jobs

This base pay is above the median for principal hardware and robotics jobs in other US places.

Median: $218K a year
Other jobs in the group: 95

We compare the middle of each posted range. This is base pay as posted. The group does not include this job.

Location: El Segundo, California +1
Work type: Not given
Level: Principal
Experience: 15+ years
Posted: Oct 9, 2026
Last check: 7 h ago
Job type: Hardware and robotics

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CHAOS Industries

Open tech jobs: 79
With posted pay: 95%
Median posted base: $154K–$240K

About CHAOS Industries: funding, hiring and pay

CHAOS Industries

About CHAOS Industries: funding, hiring and pay

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The role

What you will do

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.

Principal Avionics Systems Engineer, IPT Lead

The role

Principal Avionics Systems Engineer, IPT Lead

The role

What you will do

What you need

Nice to have

Pay and benefits

About CHAOS Industries

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CHAOS Industries

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