Airborne AI & Systems Engineering Lead

Universal Avionics; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with safe harbor match

Every other Friday off

Vacation, sick time, and paid holidays

Wellness and employee assistance

And more

Job summary

Universal Avionics seeks a Technical Manager to unite systems engineering, software, AI, and image processing for an airborne product. You will own end-to-end technical ownership from requirements to delivery, coordinating across AI, software, and verification teams and aligning with PM and senior leadership.

The role requires broad systems thinking, aviation experience, and the ability to drive architecture decisions while balancing cost, schedule, and reliability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• Experience leading complex programs or multidisciplinary product development in aviation.
• Knowledge of FAA certification processes or standards such as DO-178/DO-254 beneficial but not required.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end technical direction and integration of a complex airborne product.
• Connect requirements, architecture, development, verification, and system integration into a cohesive technical approach.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across systems engineering, software, AI, image processing, and verification.
• Guide architecture decisions and technical trade-offs while maintaining consistency across the product.
• Navigate complex cross-disciplinary issues and drive teams toward clear, practical technical decisions.
• Identify technical risks, dependencies, and integration challenges early and drive them toward resolution.
• Lead technical and design reviews to ensure alignment on architecture, interfaces, and product objectives.
• Balance technical priorities with program milestones, cost, schedule, reliability, and aircraft-level constraints.
• Serve as the primary technical focal point for Program Management and senior leadership.
• Communicate technical status, decisions, risks, and dependencies clearly to stakeholders.

Skills

Technical leadership

Systems thinking

Aviation knowledge

AI/ML expertise

Software engineering

Cross-disciplinary coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/CS/EE

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Universal Avionics seeks a Technical Manager to unite systems engineering, software, AI, and image processing for an airborne product. You will own end-to-end technical ownership from requirements to delivery, coordinating across AI, software, and verification teams and aligning with PM and senior leadership.

The role requires broad systems thinking, aviation experience, and the ability to drive architecture decisions while balancing cost, schedule, and reliability.