Lead Avionics Engineer

Castelion Corporation; Rio Rancho (NM); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Castelion Corporation seeks a Lead Avionics Engineer to define and deliver the avionics architecture for long-range hypersonic strike vehicles. You will oversee power distribution, control electronics, communications, sensors, embedded computing, and flight software to form a cohesive flight system.

You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to architect, integrate, test, and validate flight electronics from concept through flight test in a fast-paced, hardware-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• “8+ years of experience designing and integrating avionics or other high-reliability embedded electronic systems” as applicable to aerospace/defense.
• Strong background in avionics system architecture, power distribution, communications, and embedded hardware integration.
• Experience leading the development and integration of complex avionics systems from concept to flight testing.
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB design using Altium Designer or equivalent ECAD tool(s).
• Understanding of analog/digital/power/embedded electronics design principles.
• Familiarity with aerospace interfaces and protocols (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, Ethernet, RS-422/485, LVDS).
• Experience with hardware integration, system-level debugging, and root-cause analysis in laboratory and flight-test environments.
• Knowledge of EMI/EMC, grounding, shielding, and electrical reliability for aerospace systems.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, hardware-rich environment.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain avionics system architecture for flight vehicles.
• Lead integration of avionics subsystems (flight computers, sensors, power electronics).
• Develop system-level requirements, interfaces, wiring architectures, documentation.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, software, GNC, propulsion, and manufacturing teams.
• Lead hardware integration, bring-up, debugging, and flight vehicle assembly.
• Define electrical design standards and component guidelines for reliability.
• Support design reviews and technical trades to optimize performance and manufacturability.
• Develop and execute integration, qualification, and flight test plans.
• Mentor engineers across disciplines and promote best practices in avionics.
• Partner with program leadership on technical trades aligned with mission.

Skills

Avionics architecture

Embedded hardware integration

Power distribution

Schematic capture/PCB design

EMI/EMC & grounding

System-level debugging

Flight testing

Interfaces: SPI/I2C/UART/CAN

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

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.

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.

Lead Avionics Engineer

We are seeking a Lead Avionics Engineer to define and deliver the avionics architecture for Castelion's long-range hypersonic strike vehicles. This role is responsible for the overall integration of the vehicle's avionics systems, ensuring that power, control electronics, communications, sensors, embedded computing, and flight software function as a cohesive flight system. You will work hands-on with multidisciplinary engineering teams to architect, integrate, test, and validate flight electronics from concept through flight test in a fast-paced, hardware-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the avionics system architecture for flight vehicles, including power distribution, communications, grounding, interfaces, and system integration
• Lead the integration of avionics subsystems, including flight computers, sensors, power electronics, control electronics, RF systems, flight termination systems, and propulsion electronics
• Develop system-level requirements, interface definitions, wiring architectures, and integration documentation
• Work closely with electrical, mechanical, software, GNC, propulsion, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless integration of vehicle subsystems
• Lead system-level hardware integration, bring-up, debugging, and troubleshooting during development and flight vehicle assembly
• Define electrical design standards, component selection guidelines, and best practices for high-reliability flight electronics
• Support design reviews and make system-level technical trades to optimize performance, reliability, manufacturability, and testability
• Develop and execute integration, qualification, and flight test plans, translating results into system-level improvements
• Mentor electrical engineers across multiple disciplines and contribute to best practices in avionics system architecture and integration
• Partner closely with program leadership to make technical trades aligned with mission success

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field
• 8+ years of experience designing and integrating avionics or other high-reliability embedded electronic systems for aerospace or defense applications
• Strong background in avionics system architecture, power distribution, communications interfaces, and embedded hardware integration
• Experience leading the development and integration of complex avionics systems from concept through qualification and flight testing
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB design using Altium Designer or equivalent ECAD tools
• Strong understanding of analog, digital, power, and embedded electronics design principles
• Familiarity with common aerospace interfaces and communication protocols (e.g., SPI, I²C, UART, CAN, Ethernet, RS-422/485, LVDS, or similar)
• Experience with hardware integration, system-level debugging, and root cause analysis in laboratory and flight test environments
• Strong understanding of EMI/EMC, grounding, shielding, and electrical reliability considerations for aerospace systems
• Strong problem-solving mindset, thriving in a fast-paced, hardware-rich, high flight cadence environment

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.