Chief Systems Architect

AIRO Group; Phoenix, Northern (AZ, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Savings Account (HSA)

401(k) with company match

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Commuter Benefits

Fully paid Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Job summary

AIRO Group seeks a seasoned Chief Systems Architect to lead hands-on engineering across our high-growth drone division. You will own system design, MOSA-oriented baselines, and production-grade hardware/software realized from complex requirements.

You will guide cross-functional teams through MBSE-driven design, rigorous testing, and field-ready deployment, optimizing SWaP-C while integrating autonomy algorithms and secure interfaces. This role delivers impact in defense and commercial platforms.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of systems engineering and architecture experience in aerospace/defense/autonomous robotics.
• Proven track record leading system-level architecture, payload integration, and SWaP-C trade studies for unmanned aircraft systems.
• Deep MOSA and NDAA compliance expertise, open architecture buses, and ICD compliance.
• Hands-on MBSE with modeling tools plus Jira/Confluence governance.
• Leadership in setting technical standards and coordinating cross-functional teams.
• Ability to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Act as chief engineering authority across drone programs, defining system boundaries, flight-critical architectures, and standard APIs.
• Architect MOSA baselines and oversee ICDs with NDAA compliance.
• Design end-to-end UAV platforms, integrating avionics, propulsion, payloads, power, and onboard compute.
• Lead SWaP-C trades to optimize compute, payloads, and power.
• Implement MBSE workflows (Cameo, MATLAB/Simulink) for validation and tracing.
• Interface with government and commercial customers for proposals and reviews.
• Drive platforms through SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR to flight readiness.
• Evaluate AI/ML and edge computing for mission performance.

Skills

MBSE

Cameo

MATLAB/Simulink

Jira

Confluence

MOSA

NDAA compliance

ICD compliance

UAS

System architecture

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree in Engineering

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Cameo

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

At AIRO, we bring together aircraft, autonomy, avionics, and mission services into one integrated platform designed for the environments where failure is not an option. Our technology supports contested logistics, tactical and long-range ISTAR, and operations that demand precision under pressure, so the people who depend on it can get where they need to be when it matters most. Here, you will work alongside innovators, engineers, operators, and industry leaders who share a passion for solving hard problems and building what comes next in aerospace and defense.

Join us and be part of something extraordinary.

Position Overview:

As the Chief Systems Architect, you will serve as the hands-on engineering leader driving technical execution across AIRO’s high-growth drone business. You will own the system design and build the engineering infrastructure needed to turn complex requirements into field-ready tactical and commercial platforms. From architecting Modular Open Systems Architectures (MOSA) to locking down baseline APIs, you will translate strategic goals into production-grade hardware and software realities.

You will lead multidisciplinary engineering teams through the entire lifecycle—rigorously designing, testing, and deploying next-generation autonomous systems. Your day-to-day focus will center on aggressive platform SWaP-C optimization, integrating advanced autonomy algorithms, and enforcing standard engineering practices that accelerate flight-readiness. If you thrive on solving complex integration bottlenecks, working directly with hardware and code, and rapidly fielding mission-critical uncrewed systems, this role delivers immediate impact.

Key Responsibilities:

• UAS Architecture & Technical Authority: Serve as the chief engineering authority across drone programs, defining system boundaries, flight-critical architectures, and standard APIs.
• Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA): Architect open, extensible hardware and software baselines, governing Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and ensuring strict NDAA compliance.
• UAV System Design & Integration: Architect end-to-end UAV platforms, driving the design and integration of flight-critical avionics, propulsion, mission payloads, power systems, and onboard compute.
• SWaP-C Optimization & Trade Studies: Lead multidisciplinary trade studies to optimize Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) across compute, payloads, and power subsystems.
• Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE): Implement end-to-end MBSE workflows (Cameo, Jama, MATLAB/Simulink) for requirement verification, behavioral modeling, and ICD tracing.
• Customer & Stakeholder Technical Leadership: Act as the primary technical interface for government and commercial customers, translating complex architectures into high-impact proposals and program reviews.
• Full-Lifecycle Program Execution: Drive platforms through major defense and commercial milestones (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) to deliver validated, field-ready autonomous systems.
• Applied Innovation & AI/ML: Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies, applying onboard AI/ML and edge computing to enhance autonomous mission performance.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of progressive systems engineering and architecture experience within aerospace, defense, or autonomous robotics platforms.
• Proven track record leading system-level architecture, payload integration, and SWaP-C trade studies for unmanned aircraft systems (Group 1-3+ UAS, eVTOL, or fixed-wing drones).
• Deep domain expertise in MOSA, NDAA compliance, open architecture communication buses, and strict ICD compliance.
• Hands‑on proficiency with MBSE and modeling toolsets (Cameo, MATLAB / Simulink, etc…) combined with Jira and Confluence governance.
• Demonstrated leadership in setting technical standards, and coordinating cross‑functional disciplines (embedded systems, GCS, autonomy, RF, and mechanical design).
• Ability to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Security Clearance.

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, plus a minimum of 10+ years of relevant experience; or

Master's degree in Engineering, plus a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years’ experience in as a Chief System Architect or Chief Engineer.
• Direct experience with autonomous drone software stacks, edge AI compute (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson), Software Defined Radios (SDR), or RF/electronic payloads.
• Familiarity with military/commercial UAS standards (e.g., STANAG 4586, DO-178C/DO-254, FAA Part 107/BVLoS airworthiness requirements).
• Experience working in an iterative or Agile delivery environment, ideally including exposure to DevOps based build-it, run-it teams.
• Proven leadership experience in leading technical engineering teams, preferably with a track record of successfully delivering complex architecture projects.
• Experience influencing technical strategy and leading execution of cross‑functional initiatives

SECURITY & COMPLIANCE:

Comply with all company information, security policies and procedures

Ensure proper handling and protection of proprietary information

Share information only on a need-to-know basis

Adhere to company non-disclosure requirements

Physical and Mental Requirements:

Standing and sitting for extended periods of time,

Lifting up to 25 pounds in a safe and prudent manner,

Ability to work and communicate well with other employees and management, customers, visitors, vendors.

Ability to perform work utilizing manual dexterity of the hands,

Ability to push, pull, bend, stoop, reach above and below shoulders, and full use of upper extremities,

Ability to easily move through an approximately 25,000 square foot warehouse building,

Ability to read, write, and understand English,

Correctable vision and hearing.

Company Benefits:

Health Savings Account (HSA)

401(k) with company match

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Commuter Benefits

Basic Life Insurance – fully paid by the company for employees and their dependents

Long-Term Disability Insurance – fully paid by the company

Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance

Supplemental Life Insurance options

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and the employee may also be asked to perform other reasonably related job duties as assigned by their immediate supervisor as required. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed. The AIRO Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer.