Aerospace Engineer - Drone Systems Integration

Alta Ares; Paris; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Alta Ares in France seeks an experienced Avionics Architect & Hardware Design engineer to design, develop, and integrate avionics subsystems for high-performance unmanned aerial systems. You will own schematic capture, PCB layout reviews, component selection, and define electrical architecture with focus on size, weight, power and cost.

You will lead bench, hardware-in-the-loop and environmental testing, integrate electronics into airframes, and work with software and flight-test teams to

Qualifications

• MSc or equivalent in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 3–8 years in avionics, embedded hardware, or electronics design for airborne systems.
• Hands-on from schematic to tested flight hardware; flight-critical focus.
• Strong knowledge of power electronics, motor control, RF, data links, and sensors.
• Familiarity with autopilot ecosystems (PX4, ArduPilot, or proprietary).

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and integrate avionics and subsystems for UAS.
• Own schematic capture, PCB layout reviews, and component selection.
• Define electrical architecture, power distribution, and harnessing.
• Select and integrate flight controllers, GNSS/IMU, data links, and compute.
• Lead bench, hardware-in-the-loop, and environmental testing.

Skills

Hands-on hardware design

Power electronics

RF & data links

Sensor interfaces

Autopilot ecosystems (PX4/ArduPilot)

Documentation & reviews

Clear technical communication

Security culture awareness

Fluent English

Willingness to travel

Defense avionics

Embedded firmware (C/C++)

Edge compute exposure (e.g., NVIDIA)

MIL-STD familiarity

Education

MSc in Electrical/Electronic Engineering

Tools

PX4

ArduPilot

STM32 microcontrollers

EMI/EMC testing equipment

Job description

About Alta Ares

Alta Ares is an air defense Neoprime. We build AI-guided interceptors to counter drones and cruise missiles, along with the software platform that powers them.

Our customers are NATO-aligned militaries and defense institutions, and our systems are regularly deployed during live exercises and operational demonstrations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Founded in 2024, we have grown to 90 people, raised over $60M, and increased revenue 40× this year. We are now entering a new phase of international expansion, industrial scaling, fundraising, and product development.

Role & Mission

Avionics Architecture & Hardware Design

• Design, develop, and integrate avionics and electronic subsystems for high-performance unmanned aerial systems

• Own schematic capture, PCB layout reviews, and component selection for flight-critical electronics, with a strong focus on size, weight, power, and cost

• Define the electrical architecture, power distribution, and harnessing for compact, high-dynamic airframes

• Select and integrate flight controllers, navigation sensors (IMU, GNSS, magnetometer, air data), data links, and onboard compute

• Design for manufacturability and reliability, from early prototypes through to series production

Integration, Test & Validation

• Lead bench, hardware-in-the-loop, and environmental testing of avionics subsystems

• Integrate electronics into the airframe and support full system integration with the software and guidance teams

• Diagnose and resolve hardware, power, signal integrity, and EMI/EMC issues

• Support ground and flight test campaigns, analyse test data, and feed results back into rapid design iterations

Suppliers & Industrialisation

• Work with component suppliers to secure quality, cost, and lead times

• Manage component obsolescence, second-sourcing, and supply chain resilience for critical parts

• Produce and maintain design documentation, BOMs, interface control documents, and test procedures

• Support qualification activities against relevant aerospace and military standards

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Software, Guidance & Navigation, Mechanical, Product and Flight Test teams in short iteration loops

• Contribute to design reviews, trade studies, and product roadmap decisions

• Support field deployments and live demonstrations with customers when required

Requirements

Candidate profile

• MSc or equivalent in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field

• 3-8 years of experience in avionics, embedded hardware, or electronics design, ideally on UAS, aircraft, missiles, or other airborne systems

• Hands-on experience taking boards from schematic to tested flight hardware

• Solid understanding of power electronics, motor control, RF and data links, and sensor interfaces

• Familiarity with autopilot ecosystems (PX4, ArduPilot, or proprietary) is a strong plus

Skills & Qualities

• Hands-on, lab-oriented mindset: at ease with an oscilloscope, a soldering iron, and a test bench

• Rigorous, structured problem solver able to deliver under tight timelines

• Able to make pragmatic trade-offs between performance, cost, and schedule

• Clear technical communicator in documentation and design reviews

• High integrity, discretion, and understanding of security culture

• Fluent English; French is a plus

Nice to Have

• Experience in a defense startup, neoprime, or fast-moving hardware environment

• Knowledge of MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-810, DO-160, or equivalent standards

• Embedded firmware experience (C/C++) on STM32 or similar microcontrollers

• Experience integrating edge compute modules (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson) and high-bandwidth data links

• Exposure to counter-UAS or air defense systems

• Willingness to travel to test ranges and field sites