Hardware-in-the-Loop Engineer

CHAOS Industries; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance premiums fully paid

401k with company match

Free daily lunch

Unlimited PTO

No meeting Fridays

Job summary

CHAOS Industries in El Segundo, CA, seeks a Hardware-in-the-Loop Engineer to design and build HIL simulation environments for system integration testing. This full-time, on-site position requires expertise in embedded systems and strong programming skills in Python and C/C++.

The role involves collaborating with GNC, software, and systems engineers. Benefits include health coverage, 401k matching, and a range of perks like free lunches and unlimited PTO.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in hardware-in-the-loop testing or related discipline.
• Hands-on experience building and operating HIL or SIL simulation environments.
• Proficiency in real-time simulation platforms and test automation.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop HIL test benches for full effector system integration.
• Collaborate with engineers to validate hardware and software changes.
• Document test methodologies and results for cross-functional teams.

Skills

HIL simulation environments

Python programming

C/C++ programming

Embedded systems integration

Communication protocols (MAVLink, CAN, etc.)

Real-time simulation platforms

Troubleshooting skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

dSPACE

NI VeriStand

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

Role Overview

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats.

CHAOS is seeking a skilled Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Engineer to join our hardware engineering team. In this role, you will design, build, and maintain HIL simulation environments that enable full system integration testing of our Effector platforms—bridging the gap between software development and flight hardware. You will work closely with GNC, software, and systems engineers to ensure our vehicles are thoroughly validated before ever leaving the ground.

The ideal candidate has hands‑on experience building and operating HIL or SIL simulation environments for embedded or autonomous systems. This is a full‑time, on‑site position in El Segundo, CA.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop HIL test benches for full effector system integration, including flight controllers, ESCs, sensors, and ground control systems
• Integrate high‑fidelity simulation models (flight dynamics, actuator, and sensor models) that accurately replicate real‑world behavior
• Integrate hardware components—including autopilot boards, communication links, power systems, and peripherals—into HIL systems
• Develop automated test suites and regression frameworks to validate software and firmware changes against HIL environments
• Collaborate with software and integration/test engineers to define test plans and acceptance criteria for new features and hardware releases
• Debug complex hardware‑software interactions by analyzing HIL test data, logs, and telemetry
• Maintain and improve test infrastructure, including simulation software, real‑time targets, and data acquisition systems
• Document test methodologies, procedures, and results clearly for cross‑functional team use
• Support transition of HIL‑validated systems to integration and flight test phases

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• 3+ years of experience in hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, embedded systems integration, or a closely related discipline
• Hands‑on experience building and operating HIL or SIL simulation environments for embedded or autonomous systems
• Proficiency in real‑time simulation platforms (e.g., dSPACE, NI VeriStand, or similar)
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or C/C++ for test automation and system scripting
• Familiarity with flight controller software such as PX4, ArduPilot, or equivalent
• Experience with communication protocols common in drone systems (MAVLink, CAN, UART, SPI, I2C)
• Solid understanding of effector system architecture, including propulsion, navigation, and control loops
• Experience with version control systems and CI/CD pipelines for automated testing
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills across hardware and software domains
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Preferred Requirements

• Experience with ROS or ROS 2 for simulation and integration testing
• Familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink for flight dynamics or control system modeling
• Exposure to flight test operations and transitioning systems from HIL to field testing
• Experience with FPGA firmware development or embedded Linux environments
• Knowledge of RF systems, GPS signal simulation, or sensor fusion techniques
• FAA Part 107 certification or equivalent UAV operational credentials

Benefits

• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
• Additional Benefits: 401k (50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
• Perks: Free daily lunch, No meeting Fridays, unlimited PTO, casual dress code
• Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre‑IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and annual bonuses (coming soon)
• Team Growth: 250 employees and counting across 5 global offices

$130k-190k

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.

Equal Employment Opportunity

As set forth in CHAOS Industries’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.