Principal Hardware-in-the-Loop Engineer

AeroVironment, Inc. is hiring a Principal Hardware-in-the-Loop Engineer to lead the architecture, development, integration, and deployment of HWIL systems for guidance, navigation and control, avionics, and missile subsystem validation. The role owns the HWIL development lifecycle, leads a multidisciplinary engineering team, and serves as a technical interface across engineering and program teams.

Responsibilities:

• Define HWIL system architecture for NGCM baseline and future variants
• Draft hardware and software requirements for HWIL drawers and subsystems
• Develop Interface Control Documents (ICDs), Functional Block Diagrams (FBDs), Wiring Diagrams (WDs), and Test Procedures
• Ensure configuration control of all HWIL technical data packages (TDPs)
• Design, build, test, and deploy complete HWIL systems
• Lead integration of avionics, GEU, seeker, CAS, and propulsion interfaces into HWIL environment
• Support TRR, ATP, and QTP events
• Develop validation and verification (V&V) strategies for GNC algorithms
• Lead and manage HWIL engineering team (electrical, software, integration)
• Develop Basis of Estimate (BOE) for new scope and IRAD efforts
• Support Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) planning and execution
• Coordinate staffing and resource planning for HWIL activities
• Interface with Army, RCCTO, and industry partners
• Support OTA proposals and technical white papers
• Provide technical inputs for future NGCM derivative capture efforts
• Travel to partner sites for HWIL deployment and integration support

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering
• 12+ years' experience in electrical hardware design and avionics integration
• Direct experience designing, building, and deploying HWIL or system test systems
• Experience leading small engineering teams
• Avionics hardware lifecycle management
• Configuration Management (ECO, DCO, NCR, MRB, ERB processes
• Environmental qualification testing (ATP/QTP)
• OTA proposals and technical capture efforts
• Controls systems and GNC integration
• Electrical system design & hardware integration
• Technical data package development
• Experience developing HWIL systems for missile flight hardware
• Familiarity with trajectory analysis, radar modeling, or MATLAB-based analysis tools
• Prior hiring manager or section lead experience
• U.S. Citizenship
• Master's
• Background in missile or hypersonic systems
• Secret or Top Secret clearance, or the ability obtain a clearance