General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.
This is a fast-paced, hands-on engineering role where ideas move quickly from concept to hardware. You won’t just manage mechanism designs, you’ll create them, test them, break them, and make them better. If you want to work on cutting-edge aircraft, solve hard problems, and see your designs fly, this is your environment.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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Own Avionics and Electrical Systems from Concept to Flight
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Lead the architecture, integration, and development of avionics and electrical systems for advanced unmanned air vehicles
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Architect solutions for:
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Flight control computers and vehicle management systems
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Power generation, distribution, and energy storage systems
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Communications, datalinks, and networking hardware
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Navigation systems (GPS/INS and alternatives)
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Sensor integration (EO/IR, RF, mission payloads)
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Autonomy and mission system interfaces
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Invent, Integrate, Test, Repeat
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Develop innovative, low-cost, high-reliability avionics solutions
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Define system architectures that balance performance, cost, manufacturability, and robustness
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Rapidly iterate designs based on test data and operational feedback
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Drive Vehicle-Level Impact
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Make key tradeoffs across power, weight, performance, reliability, cost, and mission effectiveness
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Define and manage electrical and avionics performance margins (power budgets, thermal limits, bandwidth, latency, redundancy)
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Ensure seamless integration of avionics, autonomy, mission systems, and sensors into the overall vehicle architecture
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Lead Technical Execution
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Work with functional engineering teams (EE, software, controls, systems) to define and execute designs
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Guide system-level analysis including power systems, EMI/EMC, thermal, and integration constraints
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Establish design standards, architectures, and verification strategies
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Understand technical risks and develop creative approaches to mitigating them
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Work at Speed
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Operate in a rapid development environment with evolving requirements
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Prioritize and execute across multiple concurrent efforts
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Turn high-level concepts into executable designs and flight-ready systems quickly
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Collaborate Across the Ecosystem
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Serve as the bridge between project execution and functional engineering teams (~50/50 project and technical leadership)
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Manage suppliers and partners delivering avionics hardware, electronics, and subsystems
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Coordinate technical efforts across design, integration, and test
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Lead and support customer reviews including SRR–PDR–CDR–TRR
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Support proposal efforts, white papers, and next-generation program capture
We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.
