Senior Engineer (Avionics)

ideaForge; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 3,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Health &Well‑being

Learning opportunities

Flexible leave policies

CSR opportunities

Job summary

ideaForge is seeking a Senior Engineer (Avionics) to own end‑to‑end design, integration, and validation of autopilot and flight control systems for its YETI UAV programme.

You will lead a team of avionics and GNC engineers, while contributing as the principal technical expert for autopilot configuration, GNC development, and flight test execution. Location: Bengaluru, with a focus on certification readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronics/Aerospace/Automation or related field is required.
• Master's degree preferred; PhD desirable in relevant areas.
• Equivalent aerospace/defense certifications with experience considered acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Lead avionics and GNC engineers, deliver subsystem ownership and technical reviews.
• Define avionics architecture from concept to certification, including hardware & sensors.
• Design, tune, and validate flight control and guidance algorithms for VTOL and fixed‑wing modes.
• Plan and execute SIL/HIL tests and flight campaigns with safety compliance.
• Prepare documentation for qualification and regulatory interactions.

Skills

Avionics design

Autopilot tuning

GNC algorithms

Flight testing

Technical leadership

Sensor integration

Embedded systems

V&V

Certification

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Control Systems / related field

PhD in Control Systems / Aerospace / Robotics

Tools

CAN

PWM

UART

SIL/HIL

Autopilot platforms

Job description

About Us

ideaForge is a leading pioneer in India’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) market with widespread deployment across the country. Its drones support surveillance and mapping, with one UAV taking off every five minutes on average. Ranked 3rd globally in dual-use drone manufacturing (civil and defense), it has enabled over 8,50,000 successful flights. With strong in-house design and innovation, it delivers reliable, mission-focused UAV solutions tailored to customer needs.

Role Overview

As Senior r Engineer (Avionics), you will own the end-to-end design, integration, and validation of the autopilot and flight control systems for ideaForge's YETI UAV programme. This is a hands‑on technical leadership role where you will lead a team of avionics and GNC engineers while remaining the principal technical contributor for autopilot configuration, GNC algorithm development, and flight test execution. You will work at the intersection of embedded systems, control theory, and aerospace engineering, taking the aircraft from bench integration to certified autonomous flight.

Designation – Senior Engineer (Avionics)

Work Experience Requirements

• 10+ years of relevant professional experience in UAV avionics, flight controls, or embedded aerospace systems.
• At least 3 years on rotary‑wing or multi‑rotor VTOL platforms — including autopilot tuning, ground test, and flight test involvement.
• At least 2 years in a technical lead or senior individual contributor role, with demonstrated responsibility for subsystem delivery and team coordination.
• Demonstrated experience taking a UAV platform from bench integration through to autonomous flight — simulation‑only backgrounds will not suffice.
• Experience with CEMILAC, DGCA, FAA, or EASA certification / qualification activities is a strong advantage.

Qualification - Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Avionics, Aerospace / Aeronautical Engineering, Automation, or a related field. Master's degree is preferred. A Ph.D. in Control Systems, Guidance & Navigation, Robotics, or Aerospace Engineering is desirable. Equivalent professional experience with recognised aerospace or defence certifications will also be considered.

Location – KIADB Aerospace Park, Bengaluru

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead a team of avionics and GNC engineers by defining tasks, conducting technical reviews, mentoring engineers, and driving ownership of subsystem deliverables.
• Own the avionics system architecture, including autopilot hardware selection, sensor suite, datalink, and power interfaces, from concept through certification.
• Serve as the technical authority for flight control decisions and represent the avionics team during programme reviews, design reviews, and regulatory interactions.
• Identify and manage programme risks while maintaining the avionics verification and validation (V&V) matrix aligned with certification requirements.
• Manage relationships with autopilot and avionics hardware vendors, driving issue resolution, firmware updates, and technical escalations.

Autopilot Development & Configuration

• Configure, integrate, and tune commercial autopilot platforms for VTOL and fixed‑wing flight modes, including attitude control, guidance, and transition management.
• Develop and validate control laws for VTOL hover, transition, and fixed‑wing cruise through simulation and flight testing.
• Design and implement gain scheduling or adaptive control strategies for varying payloads, altitudes, and environmental conditions.
• Develop and validate autonomous mission modes, including waypoint navigation, Return-to-Home (RTH), geofencing, and degraded‑mode operations.

GNC Algorithms & Sensor Integration

• Design, implement, and validate Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) algorithms across simulation and hardware environments.
• Integrate, calibrate, and validate sensors and sensor fusion architectures.
• Perform stability analysis of control loops and develop performance budgets for flight control systems.
• Design, implement, and maintain Software‑in‑the‑Loop (SIL) and Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL) test environments with defined progression criteria.
• Integrate control algorithms with motor controllers and ESCs using PWM, CAN, or UART interfaces while ensuring signal integrity.

Verification, Validation & Flight Testing

• Lead the progression from SIL and HIL testing to ground and flight testing with clearly defined entry and exit criteria.
• Plan and execute flight test campaigns, including tethered hover, free hover, envelope expansion, and transition flights with strict safety protocols.
• Perform post‑flight data analysis, diagnose anomalies, optimise parameters, and refine control algorithms.
• Prepare avionics documentation, including FMEA, Software Quality Assurance Plans, test reports, and system specifications for certification.
• Support product qualification and certification activities while serving as the avionics technical lead during interactions with regulatory authorities.

Key Skills

• UAV avionics system architecture and integration.
• Autopilot configuration, tuning, and flight control systems.
• Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) algorithm development.
• Control systems design, stability analysis, and adaptive control strategies.
• Sensor integration, calibration, and sensor fusion.
• SIL and HIL simulation environments.
• Flight testing, telemetry monitoring, and post‑flight data analysis.
• VTOL and fixed‑wing aircraft control systems.
• ESCs, motor controllers, PWM, CAN, and UART interfaces.
• Embedded aerospace systems.
• Verification, Validation (V&V), FMEA, and Software Quality Assurance.
• Airworthiness and certification documentation.
• Regulatory compliance with CEMILAC, DGCA, FAA, or EASA standards.
• Technical leadership, mentoring, and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Vendor management, problem‑solving, and programme risk management.

Why Join Us

• Welcome Moment – Share a meal with your loved ones before you officially join—on us.
• Family First – Maternity, paternity, and special moments that include your loved ones.
• Health & Well‑being – Comprehensive medical cover, counselling, and wellness support.
• Learn & Grow – Continuous training, workshops, and internal mobility opportunities.
• Innovation Matters – Your ideas are recognized, rewarded, and supported.
• Recognition & Rewards – We celebrate your wins, big and small.
• Tailored Leave Policies – Life happens. Our flexible leave policies support you in balancing both personal and professional milestones.
• Relocation Support – Moving to join us? We've got your back with relocation support to make your transition seamless.
• Beyond Work – CSR opportunities that let you create real‑world impact.

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