Lead FPGA & Firmware Engineer - Avionics & Surveillance

Acron Aviation; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Acron Aviation in Grand Rapids seeks a Lead Firmware & FPGA Engineer to drive architecture, design, and certification for airborne avionics including transponders, TCAS, and ADS-B. You will own hardware requirements and manage external partners while guiding DO-254-compliant processes across multifunctional teams.

The role emphasizes leadership of firmware, FPGA, and CEH development, overseeing validation activities and integrating AI-enabled engineering tools to boost productivity and ensure

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in aerospace, avionics, or safety-critical embedded product development.
• 5+ years of technical leadership leading firmware, FPGA, or embedded avionics programs.
• Strong experience in embedded firmware architecture, design, integration, and verification.
• Experience managing external engineering design partners or contract development organizations.
• Experience developing and managing requirements documentation, traceability, and verification evidence for firmware or CEH.
• Proven knowledge of RTCA DO-254 certification expectations applicable to airborne systems.
• Strong understanding of firmware integration challenges across FPGA, hardware, software, and system validation environments.
• Experience supporting certification and regulatory activities for avionics or other highly regulated products.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering activities supporting development of RF airborne avionics products from concept through certification and production.
• Define system architecture and allocate requirements across FPGA, firmware, CEH, RF, analog, digital, mixed-signal, software, mechanical, and systems disciplines.
• Serve as technical lead for surveillance, communications, and collision avoidance products, including Mode S transponders, ADS-B, TCAS.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to multidisciplinary teams.
• Support strategic product roadmaps and next-generation avionics technology initiatives.

Skills

Technical leadership

Requirements engineering

Supplier management

Product ownership

Cross-functional collaboration

AI-enabled engineering innovation

Risk management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

Tools

DOORS

Job description

Acron Aviation in Grand Rapids seeks a Lead Firmware & FPGA Engineer to drive architecture, design, and certification for airborne avionics including transponders, TCAS, and ADS-B. You will own hardware requirements and manage external partners while guiding DO-254-compliant processes across multifunctional teams.

The role emphasizes leadership of firmware, FPGA, and CEH development, overseeing validation activities and integrating AI-enabled engineering tools to boost productivity and ensure