Avionic Systems Engineer II/III

Specter Aerospace; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Equity compensation

Health and dental insurance

401(k) plan with company match

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Specter Aerospace is seeking an Avionics Systems Engineer II/III to develop and integrate the avionics architecture for supersonic and hypersonic flight vehicles. You will ensure power, control electronics, communications, sensors, and embedded computing operate as a cohesive flight system.

You will define system-level requirements, coordinate with cross-disciplinary teams, and support hardware bring-up and test operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field.
• 2+ years of relevant full-time experience (Level II) or 5+ years (Level III) developing or integrating avionics or high-reliability embedded systems.
• Experience with avionics system architecture, power distribution, or communications interfaces.
• Familiarity with aerospace interfaces and protocols (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, Ethernet, RS-422/485).
• Comfort with hardware integration, system-level debugging, and root cause analysis in lab or test environments.
• Familiarity with EMI/EMC, grounding, shielding, and electrical reliability considerations for aerospace systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain avionics system architecture, including power distribution, communications, grounding, and subsystem interfaces.
• Support integration of avionics subsystems, including flight computers, sensors, power electronics, control electronics, and instrumentation.
• Translate vehicle-level requirements into system-level requirements, interface definitions, and verification plans.
• Coordinate with electrical, mechanical, embedded software, GNC, and propulsion engineers to resolve system integration challenges.
• Contribute to hardware integration, bring-up, debugging, and troubleshooting during development and vehicle assembly.
• Support design reviews and system-level trades to balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, and testability.
• Develop and execute integration and qualification test plans, and translate results into design improvements.
• Maintain system architecture, interface, and integration documentation.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to best practices in avionics system architecture and integration (Level III).

Skills

Avionics

System integration

Python

MATLAB

C/C++

Root cause analysis

Hardware bring-up

Laboratory testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

Job description

Role Summary:

Specter Aerospace is seeking an Avionics Systems Engineer II/III to develop and integrate the avionics architecture for our supersonic and hypersonic flight vehicles, ensuring that power, control electronics, communications, sensors, and embedded computing function together as a cohesive flight system. A successful candidate will have prior experience defining system-level requirements and interfaces, integrating multi-disciplinary avionics subsystems, and supporting hardware bring-up and troubleshooting through test and flight operations.

About Specter Aerospace:

Specter Aerospace is building the next generation of hypersonic vehicles for U.S. Forces and Allies. With offices in Boston and Peabody, MA, Specter leverages its advanced propulsion technologies, manufacturing, and testing capabilities to rapidly develop supersonic and hypersonic systems. This open application will be reviewed for roles based in any/all of our offices. Funded by a mix of government R&D organizations and private funding, Specter is expanding its team in preparation for flight testing and full-scale production.

Role Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain avionics system architecture, including power distribution, communications, grounding, and subsystem interfaces

• Support the integration of avionics subsystems, including flight computers, sensors, power electronics, control electronics, and instrumentation

• Translate vehicle-level requirements into system-level requirements, interface definitions, and verification plans

• Coordinate with electrical, mechanical, embedded software, GNC, and propulsion engineers to resolve system integration challenges

• Contribute to system-level hardware integration, bring-up, debugging, and troubleshooting during development and vehicle assembly

• Support design reviews and system-level trades to balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, and testability

• Develop and execute integration and qualification test plans, and translate results into design improvements

• Maintain system architecture, interface, and integration documentation

• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to best practices in avionics system architecture and integration (Level III)

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field

• 2+ years of relevant full-time experience (Level II) or 5+ years of relevant full-time experience (Level III) developing or integrating avionics or other high-reliability embedded electronic systems

• Experience with avionics system architecture, power distribution, or communications interfaces

• Familiarity with common aerospace interfaces and communication protocols (e.g., SPI, I²C, UART, CAN, Ethernet, RS-422/485, or similar)

• Comfort with hardware integration, system-level debugging, and root cause analysis in laboratory or test environments

• Familiarity with EMI/EMC, grounding, shielding, and electrical reliability considerations for aerospace systems

• Available for up to 10% travel for relevant ground and flight test activities

• Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance (U.S. Citizenship required)

• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active U.S. Secret clearance

• Previous experience developing or integrating avionics for aerospace, defense, spacecraft, or other high-reliability applications

• Experience with flight computers, telemetry, power distribution, or vehicle control electronics

• Experience with schematic capture and PCB design; preference for Altium Designer

• Familiarity with hardware-in-the-loop testing and avionics ground support equipment

• Familiarity with relevant IPC, military, or environmental testing standards

• Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, C, C++, or similar languages

Benefits at Specter:

• Competitive salary

• Opportunity for equity compensation

• Health and dental insurance

• 401(k) plan with company match

• Unlimited paid time off (PTO) policy

• Paid federal holidays and annual Holiday break

EEO Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.