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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jet Avionics Engineer

💰 $ - $

AerospaceEngineeringAvionics

🎯 Role Definition

The Jet Avionics Engineer is responsible for the architecture, design, integration, verification and certification of avionics hardware and embedded software for commercial, business and regional jets. This role partners with systems engineering, software, hardware, test, certification and supply chain teams to deliver safe, compliant and high-performance on-board electronic systems (flight deck, flight controls, navigation, communications, displays, mission systems). The ideal candidate is experienced with avionics standards (DO-178C, DO-254, ARP4754A), rigorous requirements flow-down, model-based design, lab and flight test execution, and FAA/EASA certification processes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Avionics Technician / Integration Specialist
  • Embedded Software Engineer (aerospace)
  • Systems Engineer or Electrical Engineer with aviation experience

Advancement To:

  • Senior Avionics Engineer / Lead Avionics Engineer
  • Systems Engineering Lead / Chief Systems Engineer
  • Certification Manager / Avionics Program Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Flight Test Engineer
  • Safety & Compliance / System Safety Engineer
  • Product Manager (avionics systems)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  1. Lead avionics system architecture definition and trade studies for jet platforms, producing clear architecture artifacts, block diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs) and rationale for design choices.
  2. Derive, allocate and manage avionics requirements across hardware and software disciplines, maintaining traceability from aircraft-level requirements through software units and hardware components.
  3. Design and develop embedded avionics software in safety-critical environments following DO-178C processes, including coding standards, software design descriptions and software verification strategies.
  4. Design, specify and oversee the development of avionics hardware (FPGA, PCB, power conditioning, sensors, LRUs), ensuring compliance with DO-254 and applicable environmental / EMC standards.
  5. Create and maintain system-level and software-level verification and validation plans, test procedures and acceptance criteria for bench, HIL (hardware-in-the-loop), lab and flight test phases.
  6. Lead integration and bench-level testing of avionics subsystems (navigation, COMM, ADS-B, transponders, flight management systems, EFIS, HUD), debugging interface issues and resolving anomalies.
  7. Develop and execute avionics test scripts, automate test frameworks, capture test evidence and produce test reports aligned to certification objectives.
  8. Manage communications and data bus integration (ARINC 429, ARINC 664/AFDX, MIL-STD-1553, CAN, Ethernet) including message mappings, timing, and failure mode analysis.
  9. Perform electrical and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC/EMI) analysis, coordinate mitigation measures and validate system performance under environmental stress (vibration, thermal, altitude).
  10. Support flight test planning and execution as avionics subject matter expert, including pre-flight checkout, real-time troubleshooting, and post-flight data analysis.
  11. Prepare and review certification artifacts (compliance matrices, certification plans, DER/TC documentation) and work with FAA/EASA certification authorities and designated engineering representatives.
  12. Conduct hazard analyses, fault tree analysis (FTA) and failure modes, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) to define safety requirements and failure mitigations per ARP4754A and ARP4761.
  13. Define and manage avionics supplier requirements, conduct supplier design reviews, interface control and test verification to ensure delivered LRUs meet program requirements.
  14. Translate customer and operational requirements into avionics features and constraints, balancing performance, weight, power, cost and maintainability for jet platforms.
  15. Maintain configuration management and change control for avionics hardware/software, ensuring versioning, baselines and traceable change records for certification.
  16. Collaborate with mechanical, electrical and software teams to resolve packaging, thermal, power and EMI constraints in avionics installations.
  17. Implement software integration strategies including continuous integration, automated unit and integration testing, and model-in-the-loop (MIL)/SIL/HIL validation.
  18. Produce detailed technical reports, design review artifacts, and engineering change orders (ECOs) while presenting findings to program leadership and customers.
  19. Support obsolescence management, lifecycle planning and upgrade paths for avionics components and systems across aircraft service life.
  20. Mentor junior engineers and technicians, run design and test workshops, and maintain engineering standards and best practices within the avionics discipline.
  21. Conduct performance analysis and tuning of flight-critical systems (flight control computers, autopilot, navigation) to meet stability and handling quality requirements.
  22. Coordinate cross-functional troubleshooting efforts during aircraft integration and certification campaigns, ensuring timely root cause determination and corrective actions.
  23. Evaluate supplier proposals and perform technical bid reviews for avionics equipment, ensuring technical compliance and cost-effective solutions for jet programs.
  24. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of evolving avionics standards, regulatory changes, and industry best practices to influence product roadmaps and ensure compliance.

Secondary Functions

  • Support program managers in defining technical schedules, risk registers and mitigation strategies related to avionics delivery and certification milestones.
  • Assist in generating Statements of Work (SOWs), technical proposals and cost estimates for avionics subsystems and integration activities.
  • Coordinate laboratory resource usage, prototype hardware procurement and test environment setup for continuous development cycles.
  • Participate on cross-functional agile squads during iterative development phases for avionics software features and system enhancements.
  • Provide technical input to maintenance and sustainment plans, troubleshooting guides and depot-level repair documentation.
  • Contribute to supplier audits, technical onboarding and capability assessments for third-party avionics suppliers.
  • Support reliability engineering efforts including MTBF estimation, reliability growth tracking and selection of proven avionics components.
  • Engage with customer technical teams to clarify avionics interfaces, operational modes and delivered capabilities during acceptance trials.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Avionics systems architecture and integration for jet aircraft (flight controls, FMS, EFIS, communications, surveillance).
  • DO-178C (avionics software development and verification) and DO-254 (avionics hardware development) process knowledge and practical application.
  • ARP4754A/ARP4761 system development and safety assessment methodologies.
  • Requirements management and traceability tools (e.g., DOORS, Polarion, Jama).
  • Embedded C/C++ development and debugging for real-time systems; familiarity with MISRA, software unit testing and static analysis tools.
  • FPGA design and verification (VHDL/Verilog), familiarity with DO-254 workflows.
  • Bus protocols and avionics interfaces: ARINC 429, ARINC 664/AFDX, MIL-STD-1553, CAN, ARINC 825, Ethernet aviation standards.
  • Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), model-in-the-loop (MIL), software-in-the-loop (SIL) test environments and automation frameworks.
  • Avionics test equipment and lab skills: oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, bit-level recording and playback tools.
  • Certification artifact preparation: compliance matrices, Verification & Validation (V&V) reports, test evidence and DER/FAA liaison experience.
  • EMC/EMI analysis, thermal/vibration environmental testing and applicable military/aerospace standards (RTCA DO-160).
  • Systems engineering tools and modeling (SysML, UML, Simulink/Matlab) and model-based design practices.
  • Fault tolerance, redundancy design and safety-critical design patterns for avionics LRUs.
  • Flight test support: instrumentation, telemetry, flight data playback and post-flight engineering analysis.
  • Configuration management and product lifecycle tools (Git, SVN, ClearCase, JIRA, PLM systems).

Soft Skills

  • Strong cross-functional communication: explain complex technical topics to systems, certification, manufacturing and customer teams.
  • Detail-oriented with rigorous documentation habits and evidence-driven decision making.
  • Problem-solving mindset with structured root cause analysis and corrective action implementation.
  • Project and time management: prioritize concurrent integration, test and certification tasks under tight program schedules.
  • Team leadership and mentoring: coach junior engineers, lead technical reviews and foster continuous improvement.
  • Customer-focused: translate operational needs into avionics capabilities and maintain responsiveness during integration and certification.
  • Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced test campaigns and flight test environments.
  • Negotiation and supplier management skills to drive technical compliance and delivery performance.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related STEM discipline.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Aerospace or Systems Engineering, or advanced degree with avionics focus.
  • Additional certification or coursework in avionics standards, safety assessment or embedded systems.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Electrical/Electronic Engineering
  • Computer/Software Engineering
  • Systems Engineering
  • Embedded Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5 - 12+ years in avionics, aerospace systems engineering, embedded software or related roles.

Preferred:

  • 7+ years designing and certifying avionics systems on jet platforms with direct DO-178C / DO-254 and ARP4754A experience.
  • Demonstrated flight test support experience and history of working with FAA/EASA certification processes.
  • Proven supplier integration, hardware debug and avionics lab/HIL setup experience.

Keywords: Jet Avionics Engineer, avionics systems, DO-178C, DO-254, ARP4754A, RTCA DO-160, embedded software, avionics integration, flight test, ARINC 429, AFDX, MIL-STD-1553, FPGA, HIL, systems engineering, avionics certification, FAA, EASA, model-based design.

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