Avionics Hardware Engineer

Castelion; Rio Rancho (NM); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Castelion is seeking an Avionics Hardware Engineer to own flight‑critical electronics from conception through production. You will lead design decisions, perform bring‑up and testing, and work across teams to ensure hardware meets stringent performance and reliability goals.

The role requires end‑to‑end ownership of avionics hardware, hands‑on PCB work, and autonomous problem solving in a high tempo defense development environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
• End-to-end ownership of avionics or high‑reliability electronic hardware
• Strong experience with PCB design, bring‑up, and lab debugging
• Ability to operate autonomously and drive hardware issues to closure

Responsibilities

• Own avionics hardware from architecture and schematic design through PCB layout, bring-up, and production support
• Drive design decisions including component selection, interfaces, and system tradeoffs
• Lead hardware bring-up, debugging, and root‑cause analysis across lab, integration, and flight test
• Collaborate cross‑functionally to ensure avionics hardware meets performance, reliability, and mission requirements
• Define and execute hardware validation strategies appropriate to development and flight maturity
• Produce clear technical documentation covering designs, test results, and engineering changes
• Partner with manufacturing and suppliers to transition hardware from prototype to production
• Continuously improve designs based on test results, field data, and evolving requirements

Skills

End-to-end ownership

PCB design

Lab debugging

Autonomy

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Job description

Why Castelion, Why Now

Castelion is moving incredibly fast to develop and deliver advanced defense systems at a time when execution matters more than ever. We believe focus, ownership, and excellence are decisive advantages - and we're building a world-class team to turn bold ideas into real capability.

This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where you'll have significant ownership, collaborate with exceptional teammates, and make a direct, measurable impact on our mission and the future of the company - regardless of your function.

Avionics Hardware Engineer

We are hiring Avionics Hardware Engineers to own flight‑critical electronics across design, bring‑up, test, and integration. This role is intended for engineers with experience in complex electronic systems who can take responsibility for avionics subsystems and operate effectively in a high‑tempo development environment. Engineers in this role may own areas such as motor controllers, avionics backplanes, power distribution, or outward‑facing avionics test and integration.

Responsibilities

• Own avionics hardware from architecture and schematic design through PCB layout, bring-up, and production support
• Drive design decisions including component selection, interfaces, and system tradeoffs
• Lead hardware bring-up, debugging, and root‑cause analysis across lab, integration, and flight test
• Collaborate cross‑functionally to ensure avionics hardware meets performance, reliability, and mission requirements
• Define and execute hardware validation strategies appropriate to development and flight maturity
• Produce clear technical documentation covering designs, test results, and engineering changes
• Partner with manufacturing and suppliers to transition hardware from prototype to production
• Continuously improve designs based on test results, field data, and evolving requirements

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field
• Proven end-to-end ownership of avionics or high‑reliability electronic hardware
• Strong experience with PCB design, bring‑up, and lab debugging
• Ability to operate autonomously and drive hardware issues to closure

Preferred Qualifications

• Avionics, aerospace, missile, space, automotive, or defense hardware experience
• Experience with motor controllers, backplanes, power electronics, or flight hardware
• Familiarity with MIL‑STD or aerospace hardware standards (e.g., DO‑254 exposure)
• Embedded systems or FPGA‑adjacent hardware experience
• Experience supporting hardware in integration, test, or flight environments

Castelion offers a generous benefits package. Please refer to the bottom of our Careers page for more details.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

This position may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information, as determined by the Company and/or applicable U.S. Government requirements. If the position is so designated, your employment in the role may be contingent upon your ability to obtain and maintain the required U.S. Government security clearance or other government authorization, and to satisfy any citizenship or other eligibility requirements imposed by applicable law, regulation, executive order, or government contract requirements. You will be notified if and when such requirements apply.

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement

Castelion is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Castelion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, participate in the interview process, or otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact [e-mail]. Requests for accommodation will be considered on an individual basis and handled in accordance with applicable law.

Castelion is committed to fostering a workplace where employment decisions are based on qualifications, business needs, and the ability to perform the essential functions of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation.

EAR/ITAR Requirements

This position requires access to export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.