Avionics Engineer

Poseidon Aerospace; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Health benefits

6% retirement matching

Flexible PTO

Free lunches

AI tools access

Job summary

Poseidon Aerospace in the San Francisco Bay Area is seeking an Avionics Engineer to design, integrate, and validate our autonomous cargo aircraft avionics systems. You will help build a reliable stack that powers propulsion, control, and autonomy across our fleet, collaborating with software, mechanical structures, and flight test teams.

Candidates bring hands-on experience with flight hardware, schematic capture, wiring harness design, and data bus networks (CAN, ARINC 429, RS-232/485,

Qualifications

• Experience integrating complex electronic systems on aircraft, UAVs, or high-performance vehicles.
• Proficiency with schematic capture and harness design tools.
• Experience using lab equipment to debug hardware and signal issues.
• Ability to understand how sensor sample rate changes affect flight controllers/pilots’ displays.
• Strong communication skills to explain technical trade-offs to non-electrical teammates.

Responsibilities

• Own the integration of flight computers, sensors, actuators, and communication suites into a cohesive aircraft system.
• Develop wiring diagrams, interconnect drawings (ICDs), and system schematics.
• Configure and troubleshoot data bus architectures (CAN, ARINC 429, RS-232/485, Ethernet).
• Support electrical load analysis (ELA) and EMI/EMC mitigation across the airframe.
• Assist in bench-to-bird processes, including building test harnesses, breadboarding circuits, and performing HIL testing.
• Act as the technical glue between software, mechanical structures, and flight test pilots.
• Get hands-on with the aircraft to diagnose gremlins during ground and flight testing using oscilloscopes and data logs.

Skills

Vehicle electrical integration

Schematic capture/harness design

Lab equipment debugging

Sensor sampling rate impact

Cross-team communication

Tools

Altium

AutoCAD Electrical

Capital

Job description

About Poseidon Aerospace:

Poseidon Aerospace is reimagining how the world moves goods. We build and operate full-size autonomous cargo aircraft - capable of carrying two tons of payload over a thousand nautical miles. From remote communities to contested logistics operations, our platforms unlock a new cost curve for air freight, making it faster, cheaper, and accessible anywhere it’s needed. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with locations in Washington DC, Oregon, and Maine; we’re building something consequential.

As an Avionics Engineer at Poseidon Aerospace, you will contribute to the design, integration, and validation of the avionics systems powering our aircraft. You will help develop an efficient and reliable system that support propulsion, control, and autonomy across our fleet.

Responsibilities:

• Own the integration of flight computers, sensors, actuators, and communication suites into a cohesive aircraft system.

• Develop comprehensive wiring diagrams, interconnect drawings (ICDs), and system schematics.

• Configure and troubleshoot data bus architectures (e.g., CAN, ARINC 429, RS-232/485, and Ethernet).

• Support electrical load analysis (ELA) and ensure clean power distribution and EMI/EMC mitigation across the airframe.

• Assist in the “bench-to-bird” process, including building test harnesses, breadboarding circuits, and performing HIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) testing.

• Act as the technical glue between the software team, the mechanical structures team, and the flight test pilots.

• Get hands-on with the aircraft to diagnose “gremlins” during ground and flight testing, using everything from oscilloscopes to data logs.

Qualifications:

• A background in integrating complex electronic systems on vehicles (aircraft, UAVs, or high-performance automotive).

• Proficiency in schematic capture/harness design tools (e.g., Altium, AutoCAD Electrical, Capital) and a solid grasp of basic circuit theory.

• Comfortable using lab equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers) to debug hardware and signal issues.

• Ability to understand how a change in a sensor’s sample rate might impact the flight controller or the pilot’s display.

• Strong communication skills to explain technical trade-offs to non-electrical teammates.

Nice to Have:

• Familiarity with DO-160, DO-178, or DO-254 standards.

• Experience with antennas, GPS, or telemetry link integration.

• Proficiency in Python or C/C++ for automating tests or parsing flight data.

• Experience spinning quick-turn boards for break-out boxes or signal conditioning.

• A private pilot license or Part 107 (UAV) certification is a huge plus

What you get from us

• Competitive salary and meaningful early-stage equity

• Relocation support if applicable

• Employee Health Benefit Plans

• 6% Retirement matching

• Flexible PTO

• Free lunches, snacks, and a stocked fridge at our offices

• AI tools and subscriptions