MANAGER-R&D - Avionics-Electrical Engineering Manager

Southwest Research Institute; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Research Institute's Defense & Intelligence Solutions Division seeks a leader to drive avionics test engineering, verification strategies, and lab modernization from San Antonio, TX. You will guide embedded electronics test systems, ATE architectures, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure mission-critical success.

Travel to multiple USAF bases, lead program planning, staffing, budgets, and customer engagements, and help win opportunities through strategic marketing and technical

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering or related field; advanced degrees preferred.
• 10 years leading multidisciplinary engineering teams in embedded electronics and avionics hardware.
• 10 years supporting USAF bomber/tanker/weapon system modernization with verification architectures.
• 8+ years managing personnel, budgets, proposals, ROMs, RFIs, and business development.
• 5+ years verifying and validating embedded avionics, including EMI/EMC and production tests.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to customer locations.

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead avionics verification/validation programs, managing staff, labs, and budgets.
• Travel to Hill AFB, Tinker AFB, Robins AFB, Wright-Patterson AFB for meetings and demos.
• Direct development of ATE, hardware-in-the-loop systems, and lab instrumentation.
• Ensure hardware meets performance, environmental, EMI/EMC, and airworthiness requirements.
• Lead business development, proposals, ROMs, RFIs, and capture activities.

Skills

Technical leadership

Verifications & validation

ATE development

Program management

Customer engagement

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Systems Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

ATE systems

Laboratory instrumentation

Embedded electronics test setups

Job description

Who We Are:

The Strategic Aerospace Department within the Defense & Intelligence Solutions Division delivers cutting-edge engineering services to enhance the warfighter's capabilities across bomber, tanker, and heavy aircraft platforms. We specialize in world-class research, design, and support, providing innovative solutions to modern challenges and legacy systems for the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command, Department of Defense, allied nations, and the U.S. Government, ensuring mission readiness and technological superiority.

Objectives of this Role:

Lead the Avionics Test Engineering to achieve technical excellence, staff utilization, financial performance, and business growth while developing strategic capabilities supporting verification and validation of mission-critical avionics systems. Partner with Program Managers, SME Engineers, and customers to define verification strategies, staffing, schedules, technical risks, and laboratory resources supporting hardware development, qualification, production, and sustainment programs. Provide technical leadership for embedded electronics test systems, automated test equipment (ATE), avionics integration laboratories, qualification testing, and production acceptance testing supporting U.S. Air Force weapon systems. Establish standardized laboratory processes, verification methodologies, automated test architectures, and engineering best practices while mentoring multidisciplinary engineering teams and advancing organizational technical capabilities. Lead business development and strategic marketing efforts to identify, shape, capture, and win avionics verification, automated test system, laboratory modernization, and sustainment opportunities supporting continued department growth.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

Plan, organize, and lead daily technical and administrative activities while managing engineering staff utilization, laboratory resources, budgets, employee development, and execution of avionics verification and validation programs. Travel regularly to Hill AFB, Tinker AFB, Robins AFB, Wright-Patterson AFB, and other customer locations to support technical interchange meetings, laboratory demonstrations, program execution, and business development activities. Direct development of automated test equipment (ATE), hardware-in-the-loop systems, laboratory instrumentation, embedded software test solutions, environmental test systems, and production acceptance testers. Ensure developed avionics hardware and electronic assemblies successfully meet performance, environmental, EMI/EMC, nuclear survivability, airworthiness, and customer qualification requirements through comprehensive verification and validation. Lead customer engagement, strategic marketing, proposal development, ROMs, RFIs, technical presentations, white papers, and capture activities supporting opportunities from concept development through contract award.

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related engineering discipline. Other degree fields may be considered with highly relevant experience supporting USAF avionics modernization and sustainment programs. Advanced degrees are preferred.
• 10 years: Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary engineering teams developing embedded electronics, avionics hardware, automated test equipment, verification laboratories, production test systems, and qualification test programs.
• 10 years: Experience supporting USAF bomber, tanker, heavy aircraft, or strategic weapon system modernization and sustainment programs with experience developing avionics verification architectures, qualification strategies, and laboratory test capabilities.
• 8+ years: Demonstrated leadership managing engineering personnel, laboratory operations, utilization, budgets, technical execution, proposals, ROMs, RFIs, and strategic business development supporting DoD avionics and electronic systems.
• 5+ years: Experience leading verification and validation of embedded avionics systems including automated testing, environmental qualification, EMI/EMC, production acceptance testing, airworthiness verification, and system integration.
• A valid/clear driver's license is required.

Special Requirements:

• Applicant selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
• Applicant must be a U.S. citizen.

Job Locations:

San Antonio, Texas

Military Friendly:

Your military experience may apply to this position

For more information about this division, visit the Defense & Intelligence Solutions home page.

For benefits information at our San Antonio location, click here.

For benefits information at all other locations, click here.

An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and veteran status.