Lead Firmware Engineer

AVIA; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Acron Aviation seeks a Lead Firmware Engineer – Surveillance to design, develop, verify, and maintain safety-critical firmware for avionics and embedded systems supporting TCAS and transponder applications. You will work with hardware, RF, and software teams to ensure disciplined design assurance across the product lifecycle.

You will mentor junior engineers, apply DO-254 processes, and contribute to certification artifacts and customer-facing solutions for diverse platforms including UAM and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering with 9+ years of relevant experience, or a graduate degree with 7+ years.
• Minimum 6 years of systems engineering experience, including requirements definition, verification, design reviews, integration and test.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in FPGA and firmware design.
• Hands-on experience designing and developing avionics, RF, or sensor-based systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop firmware for TCAS and transponder using Xilinx and Microchip FPGAs and associated toolchains (ISE, Vivado, Libero).
• Verify designs with Active-HDL and QuestaSim.
• Design and implement RTL using VHDL and Verilog.
• Apply DO-254 airborne electronic hardware lifecycle processes.
• Perform requirements-based verification of firmware designs.
• Generate design documentation including HRDs, HDDs, HCIAs, and certification artifacts such as PHACs.
• Collaborate with hardware, software, and certification authorities across multidisciplinary teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote engineering best practices.
• Travel up to 10% as required.

Skills

FPGA firmware design

System engineering principles

Mentoring/leadership

Cross-functional communication

Requirements-based verification

MBSE

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Master’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Tools

Xilinx ISE

Vivado

Libero

Active-HDL

QuestaSim

VHDL

Verilog

Job description

About Acron Aviation (Avionics – Surveillance):

Acron Aviation designs, engineers, and manufactures certified avionics systems that support safety-critical flight operations across commercial and military aviation. Within Avionics, the Surveillance product line develops and sustains systems that enable aircraft awareness, collision avoidance, and airspace interoperability. Our portfolio includes TCAS, Mode S transponders, ADS-B, and integrated surveillance solutions deployed across commercial, military, and rotorcraft platforms. This work is performed in highly regulated environments and demands deep expertise across systems, hardware, software, and RF throughout the full product lifecycle.

Job Title

Lead Firmware Engineer – Surveillance

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Firmware Engineer and DO-254 Complex Electronic Hardware expert to join the Surveillance hardware product development team. In this role, you will design, develop, verify, and maintain safety-critical firmware for avionics and embedded systems that support TCAS and transponder applications, in compliance with DO-254 standards. You will work closely with hardware engineers, system architects, and certification authorities to ensure disciplined design assurance processes are applied throughout the product lifecycle.

You will collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, including mechanical, electrical (digital/analog), RF, firmware, and software engineering, to plan, design, prototype, and test avionics systems. This role also includes mentoring junior engineers and reinforcing best practices across the Surveillance product line. The work supports commercial air transport, general aviation, and emerging platforms such as Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and eVTOL aircraft.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop firmware using Xilinx and Microchip FPGAs and associated toolchains (ISE, Vivado, Libero)
• Utilize simulation tools such as Active-HDL and QuestaSim for design verification
• Design and implement RTL using VHDL and/or Verilog
• Apply DO-254 airborne electronic hardware development lifecycle processes
• Perform requirements-based verification of firmware designs
• Generate design documentation including HRDs, HDDs, HCIAs, and certification artifacts such as PHACs
• Participate in proposal activities including task estimation, risk identification, and development planning
• Communicate effectively across technical and cross-functional teams
• Interface directly with customers, in person or virtually, to understand requirements and develop solutions
• Mentor junior engineers and promote engineering best practices
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Travel up to 10% as required

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience, or a graduate degree with a minimum of 7 years of related experience
• Minimum 6 years of experience applying systems engineering principles, including requirements definition, verification, design reviews, integration, and test
• Minimum 7 years of experience in FPGA and firmware design
• Hands‑on experience designing and developing avionics, RF, or sensor‑based systems

Preferred Additional Skills

• Experience with aerospace systems, particularly integrated hardware/software product development
• Exposure to Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
• Awareness of electrical design considerations impacting firmware and FPGA development
• Experience with RTOS integration and understanding of hardware implications
• Practical understanding of RF design, particularly in the L-band frequency range and FPGA applications
• Strong interpersonal skills with experience leading and collaborating in multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
• Knowledge of aerospace standards such as DO-160 and DO-178
• Experience with design-to-cost and design-for-manufacturability principles
• Experience supporting production and test in geographically distributed environments
• Proven ability to manage multiple programs and priorities simultaneously
• Ability to operate independently and determine appropriate technical paths forward with minimal oversight
• Pilot license or Part 107 certification (a plus)

Equal Opportunity Statement

Acron Aviation is proud to be an affirmative action and Equal Opportunity Employer.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants with respect and dignity and to maintaining a workplace free from unlawful discrimination.

All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Additional Information:

Acron Aviation maintains a drug-free workplace and conducts pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where allowed by law. Acron Aviation is an E-Verify employer.