Avionics Systems Architect, UAS Programs

About Us

We’re a combat-tested group of engineers, operators, and entrepreneurs who believe America’s edge depends on autonomous airpower that’s trusted and deployable today not in 2040. Backed by tier-one investors, we’ve secured the runway - financial, regulatory, and literal - to move at startup speed while tackling a national-security mission that matters. We’ve structured the company for radical ownership: no silos, no “systems integrator” overhead, just tightly knit mission-focused IPTs that live and breathe the hardware and code they ship.

If you thrive where hard-tech ambition meets national-security urgency, you’ll build faster here than anywhere else. Let’s get after it.

Culture That Ships

• Strong Core Values, Startup Execution. Integrity, Service Before Self, Excellence, Honor, Courage, Commitment—powered by a bias for action and a “figure it out” mindset.
• Self-Starters Only. You’ll have clear objectives, a blank sheet of paper, and the trust (plus capital) to move fast. Bureaucracy stays out of your way.
• One Team, No Tourists. Whether you’re tuning a control law at 2 a.m. or heat-treating a Ti-6Al-4V spar, everyone sweats the details. We celebrate wins together and own failures together.

What’s In It for You

• Mission With a Pulse. Every line of code, bracket, or test you deliver expands the toolbox of the warfighter on Day 1 of a conflict.
• Resources Without Red Tape. VC speed + DoD customer pull: access to test ranges, flight hours, and operator feedback while retaining startup agility.
• Career-Defining Upside. Significant equity, best-in-class benefits, and the chance to see your product deliver in months, not decades.

About the Role

We’re looking for an Avionics Architecture Lead Engineer to own the end-to-end avionics system design for our autonomous aircraft. You will define the architecture, manage key avionics subcontractors, and ensure the system meets FAA certification requirements.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role for a self-starter who can zoom from high-level architecture down into ICD details, test plans, and flight-test findings.

What You’ll Do

• Own the avionics architecture.
  • Define the end-to-end avionics system, including mission computers, navigation, communications, surveillance, and payload interfaces.
    Select network topologies (ARINC 664/AFDX, TSN Ethernet, ARINC 429, CAN, etc.) and define redundancy, partitioning, and data flows.
  • Lead supplier & subcontractor integration.
• Serve as primary technical point of contact for avionics vendors and integrators.
  • Drive SOWs, technical requirements, ICDs, and acceptance criteria.
  • Review vendor designs, safety artifacts, and test results; hold them accountable to cost/schedule/technical performance.
• Ensure FAA airworthiness compliance.
  • Architect the system in accordance with ARP 4754A/4761, DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160, and applicable Part 23/25 guidance.
  • Support System Safety in the development and maintenance system-level requirements, safety analyses (FHA, PSSA, SSA), and certification plans.
• Drive verification & validation.
  • Develop system-level test plans, HIL/LRU integration plans, and test objectives.
  • Work with test and flight teams to triage anomalies, root-cause issues, and feed fixes back into the architecture.
• Collaborate across the stack.
  • Partner with Autonomy, GNC, Flight Controls, and Cyber teams to ensure avionics supports robust, resilient autonomous operations.
  • Communicate clearly with leadership on risk, mitigations, and tradeoffs.

What You Bring

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in avionics systems design and integration on certificated aircraft.
• Proven experience with FAA certification efforts, including hands-on work with some combination of:
  • ARP 4754A / ARP 4761
  • DO-178C (software)
  • DO-254 (hardware)
  • DO-160 environmental testing
  • Part 23 or Part 25 certification projects
• Strong systems engineering fundamentals: requirements development, ICDs, safety analysis, verification planning.
• Demonstrated experience integrating avionics LRUs, networks, and sensors in a lab or flight-test environment.
• Track record of leading and managing subcontractors or vendors—able to push back technically and keep them aligned to mission and schedule.
• Excellent communication skills; comfortable presenting architecture and certification status to both engineers and non-technical stakeholders.
• U.S. Person, eligible to obtain a DoD Secret clearance.

Bonus Points

• Experience with defense-focused avionics or mission systems (Link-16, SATCOM, tactical radios, radar, EO/IR, etc.).
• Prior work on UAS, optionally-piloted, or highly autonomous aircraft.
• Familiarity with GRA, MOSA, or SOSA standards and modular open-systems architectures.
• MBSE experience (SysML, Cameo/MagicDraw) linking avionics design to the broader digital thread.
• FAA DER and/or E-UM Ticket in applicable Airworthiness Standards

Why You’ll Love Working Here (Compensation and Benefits)

Base Salary: $160,000 to $220,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide 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. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Atropos's total compensation package. Additionally, Atropos offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

• Platinum Healthcare Benefits: Atropos offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with 100% employer-paid premiums and little to no cost to you
• Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Atropos, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents
• Unlimited PTO, with minimum of 15 days enforced
• 20 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy, life coaching, and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, available to you as well
• Tuition and professional development reimbursement for STEM, MBA, and licenses
• In-Office Daily Lunch catered 
• Company-funded child care stipend 
• Company-funded commuter benefits available based on your region.
• Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility).
• 401(k) retirement savings plan - both a traditional and Roth 401(k). 6% employer matching contribution

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.

Atropos is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Atropos team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you are someone who is interested in disrupting the way the Department of Defense buys and operates unmanned weapon systems, please apply!