Overview: The Development Lead, Avionics and Electrical Systems is a visionary and hands-on engineering leader responsible for driving the early-stage development of new and innovative aircraft, systems, or feature development projects within the Cirrus Advanced Design and Development (AD&D) department. This position will focus on the initial phases of aircraft development—ideation, hypothesis generation, stakeholder engagement, technology maturation, and conceptual design. Responsibilities:
- Take full ownership of leading the development of Avionics and Electrical Systems from ideation through conceptual design and into practical product paths.
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Generate and test hypotheses through hands-on prototyping, simulation, and evaluation, with minimal supervision.
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Create and manage development plans focused on early-stage exploration, requirements capture, and concept validation.
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Engineer and refine requirements and objectives through stakeholder engagement and iterative experimentation.
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Translate verbal direction and vision into actionable design objectives and development strategies.
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Collaborate directly with pilots, mechanics, and experimental technicians, as well as external stakeholders such as Product Development, Certification, and Production teams.
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Foster a culture of rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration, learning from both success and failure.
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Communicate complex ideas effectively and efficiently to diverse audiences.
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Travel up to 25% may be required.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering (or related STEM discipline).
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10+ years of experience in aviation, aerospace, or advanced product development.
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Broad technical skillset related to aircraft, with strong understanding of avionics and electrical systems.
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Previous early product development experience – from a clean sheet to working prototypes.
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Proven track record of producing results when developing new designs or products.
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Willingness to take smart risks, accept accountability, and fix mistakes.
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Demonstrated ability to lead small technical teams and manage early development projects.
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Intrinsic motivation to drive progress - to explore, challenge, and innovate – and to minimize administrative overhead.
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Experienced in iterative development cycles, with a strong ability to identify non-viable solutions early and reorient technical strategy quickly.
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Strong hands-on skills in prototyping, simulation, and testing.
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Comfortable operating under tight deadlines with minimal direction and in a shop or lab environment.
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Proficient in creating engineering design definition - 3D models, 2D drawings, sketches, schematics, BOMs.
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Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
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Familiarity with system development standards (e.g., ARP4754A, ARP4761).
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Preferred Qualifications: Master's degree in related discipline. Previous experience in aircraft program development; leading integrated product teams, or similar technical teams; private pilots certificate or personal aviation experience; familiarity with PTC products (e.g. CREO, Windchill), Mathworks products (e.g. Matlab, Simulink), Atlassian products (e.g. Jira, Confluence); proficient in at least one coding language; Experience with FAA certification processes and standards (e.g. Part 23, Part 27, Advisory Circulars, Industry Consensus Standards).
Our Benefits: Cirrus provides a range of exciting benefits, including:
Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, vision, dental, with additional dependent coverage options-
Employer-Paid Coverages: Group term life, short- and long-term disability insurance
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Flexible Spending Accounts: FSA and HSA offerings with company contributions to HSA
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Well-being: Calm Health, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness incentives through medical provider
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401(k) Plan: Dollar-for-dollar match up to 5% after 90 days, with 100% vesting at 1 year of service
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PTO: Various PTO plans starting at 100 hours accrued within the first year
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Additional Time off Benefits: Paid holidays, 2 weeks of Paid Parental leave, paid time for funeral leave and jury duty
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Career Development: Tuition reimbursement program and professional growth opportunities
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Exclusive Discounts: Cirrus Store, partner and marketplace discounts available
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Community & Engagement: Company and employee clubs at various locations
These benefits are designed to support your well-being, growth, and enjoyment at Cirrus!
