Advanced Design Avionics and Electrical Systems Principal

Cirrus; Duluth (MN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Health Coverage

401(k) Plan with dollar-for-dollar match

Tuition reimbursement program

Job summary

Cirrus is seeking a Development Lead for Avionics and Electrical Systems, responsible for leading early-stage development of innovative aircraft and systems. You will engage in ideation, stakeholder collaboration, and technology maturation to drive product development.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's in Engineering, at least 10 years of experience in aerospace, and strong skills in prototyping and simulation. The role includes opportunities for travel and offers a range of comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in aviation, aerospace, or advanced product development.
• Strong understanding of avionics and electrical systems.
• Ability to lead small technical teams and manage projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of Avionics and Electrical Systems from ideation to product paths.
• Collaborate with stakeholders in design objectives and strategies.
• Conduct hands-on prototyping and testing.

Skills

Aerospace engineering

Electrical systems

Prototyping

Simulation

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering related to Aerospace

Tools

3D modeling software (e.g., CREO)

MATLAB

Jira

Job description

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.
• Generate and test hypotheses through hands-on prototyping, simulation, and evaluation, with minimal supervision.
• Create and manage development plans focused on early-stage exploration, requirements capture, and concept validation.
• Engineer and refine requirements and objectives through stakeholder engagement and iterative experimentation.
• Translate verbal direction and vision into actionable design objectives and development strategies.
• Collaborate directly with pilots, mechanics, and experimental technicians, as well as external stakeholders such as Product Development, Certification, and Production teams.
• Foster a culture of rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration, learning from both success and failure.
• Communicate complex ideas effectively and efficiently to diverse audiences.
• Travel up to 25% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering (or related STEM discipline).
• 10+ years of experience in aviation, aerospace, or advanced product development.
• Broad technical skillset related to aircraft, with strong understanding of avionics and electrical systems.
• Previous early product development experience – from a clean sheet to working prototypes.
• Proven track record of producing results when developing new designs or products.
• Willingness to take smart risks, accept accountability, and fix mistakes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead small technical teams and manage early development projects.
• Intrinsic motivation to drive progress - to explore, challenge, and innovate – and to minimize administrative overhead.
• Experienced in iterative development cycles, with a strong ability to identify non-viable solutions early and reorient technical strategy quickly.
• Strong hands-on skills in prototyping, simulation, and testing.
• Comfortable operating under tight deadlines with minimal direction and in a shop or lab environment.
• Proficient in creating engineering design definition - 3D models, 2D drawings, sketches, schematics, BOMs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with system development standards (e.g., ARP4754A, ARP4761).

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).

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, vision, dental, with additional dependent coverage options
• Employer-Paid Coverages: Group term life, short- and long-term disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts: FSA and HSA offerings with company contributions to HSA
• Well-being: Calm Health, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness incentives through medical provider
• 401(k) Plan: Dollar-for-dollar match up to 5% after 90 days, with 100% vesting at 1 year of service
• PTO: Various PTO plans starting at 100 hours accrued within the first year
• Additional Time off Benefits: Paid holidays, 2 weeks of Paid Parental leave, paid time for funeral leave and jury duty
• Career Development: Tuition reimbursement program and professional growth opportunities
• Exclusive Discounts: Cirrus Store, partner and marketplace discounts available
• Community & Engagement: Company and employee clubs at various locations