Lead Hardware-in-the-Loop Engineer

InvestedintheMission; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 138,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company matching

9/80 schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. in Huntsville, AL, seeks a HWIL Lead to own architecture, development, integration, and deployment of NGCM HWIL systems supporting GNC, avionics, and missile subsystem validation.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team and serve as the interface among GNC, systems engineering, propulsion, and program management. The role demands 8+ years in electrical hardware design, avionics integration, and HWIL deployment, plus CM, ATP/QTP, and GNC expertise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (Master's preferred).
• 8+ years experience in electrical hardware design and avionics integration.
• Direct experience designing, building, and deploying HWIL systems.
• Experience leading small engineering teams.
• Background in missile or hypersonic systems preferred.
• Experience with avionics hardware lifecycle management.
• Knowledge of Configuration Management (ECO, DCO, NCR, MRB, ERB).
• Experience with ATP/QTP environmental qualification testing.
• Knowledge of GNC integration and electrical system design.

Responsibilities

• Define HWIL system architecture for NGCM baseline and future variants
• Draft hardware and software requirements for HWIL drawers and subsystems
• Develop Interface Control Documents (ICDs), Functional Block Diagrams (FBDs), Wiring Diagrams (WDs), and Test Procedures
• Ensure configuration control of all HWIL technical data packages (TDPs)
• Design, build, test, and deploy complete HWIL systems
• Lead integration of avionics, GEU, seeker, CAS, and propulsion interfaces into HWIL environment
• Support TRR, ATP, and QTP events
• Develop validation and verification (V&V) strategies for GNC algorithms
• Lead and manage HWIL engineering team (electrical, software, integration)
• Develop Basis of Estimate (BOE) for new scope and IRAD efforts
• Support Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) planning and execution
• Coordinate staffing and resource planning for HWIL activities
• Interface with Army, RCCTO, and industry partners
• Support OTA proposals and technical white papers
• Provide technical inputs for future NGCM derivative capture efforts
• Travel to partner sites for HWIL deployment and integration support

Skills

Electrical hardware design

Avionics integration

Lead small teams

System architecture

V&V strategy development

Documentation (ICDs/FBDs/WDs)

Configuration management

ITAR/EAR compliance awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's preferred

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

The Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) Lead will be responsible for the architecture, development, integration, and deployment of NGCM HWIL systems supporting Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC), avionics, and missile subsystem validation. This role owns the full lifecycle of HWIL system development from requirements definition through integration, test, and customer deployment. This individual will lead a small multidisciplinary team and serve as the technical interface between GNC, systems engineering, propulsion, and program management.

Key Responsibilities

• Define HWIL system architecture for NGCM baseline and future variants
• Draft hardware and software requirements for HWIL drawers and subsystems
• Develop Interface Control Documents (ICDs), Functional Block Diagrams (FBDs), Wiring Diagrams (WDs), and Test Procedures
• Ensure configuration control of all HWIL technical data packages (TDPs)
• Design, build, test, and deploy complete HWIL systems
• Lead integration of avionics, GEU, seeker, CAS, and propulsion interfaces into HWIL environment
• Support TRR, ATP, and QTP events
• Develop validation and verification (V&V) strategies for GNC algorithms
• Lead and manage HWIL engineering team (electrical, software, integration)
• Develop Basis of Estimate (BOE) for new scope and IRAD efforts
• Support Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) planning and execution
• Coordinate staffing and resource planning for HWIL activities
• Interface with Army, RCCTO, and industry partners
• Support OTA proposals and technical white papers
• Provide technical inputs for future NGCM derivative capture efforts
• Travel to partner sites for HWIL deployment and integration support

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (Master's preferred)
• 8+ years experience in electrical hardware design and avionics integration
• Direct experience designing, building, and deploying HWIL systems
• Experience leading small engineering teams
• Background in missile or hypersonic systems preferred
• Experience with:
  • Avionics hardware lifecycle management
  • Configuration Management (ECO, DCO, NCR, MRB, ERB processes)
  • Environmental qualification testing (ATP/QTP)
  • OTA proposals and technical capture efforts
• Strong working knowledge of:
  • Controls systems and GNC integration
  • Electrical system design & hardware integration
  • Technical data package development

Desired Qualifications

• Experience developing HWIL systems for missile flight hardware
• Familiarity with trajectory analysis, radar modeling, or MATLAB-based analysis tools
• Prior hiring manager or section lead experience

Clearance Level

Secret

Benefits

AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.

The salary range for this role is: $137,500 - $209,750

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

U.S. Citizenship is required. Secret or Top Secret clearance, or the ability obtain a clearance is desired.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans.

AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants.

Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.