Principal Hardware-in-the-Loop Engineer

AV; Arizona; On-site; USD 138,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental coverage

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AV is seeking a Principal Hardware-in-the-Loop Engineer to own the architecture, development, integration, and deployment of NGCM HWIL systems for GNC, avionics, and missile subsystem validation. You will lead a multidisciplinary team across requirements, design, and customer deployment.

You will define HWIL architecture, draft ICDs and test procedures, and drive V&V strategies while coordinating with Army and industry partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering (Master's preferred).
• 12+ years of electrical hardware design and avionics integration experience.
• Experience designing, building, and deploying HWIL or system test systems.
• Experience leading small engineering teams.
• Background in missile or hypersonic systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define HWIL system architecture for NGCM baseline and future variants.
• Draft hardware and software requirements for HWIL drawers and subsystems.
• Develop ICDs, FBDs, Wiring Diagrams, and Test Procedures.
• Lead HWIL integration, test, and deployment activities.
• Coordinate staffing and resource planning for HWIL activities.
• Interface with Army, RCCTO, and industry partners.
• Support OTA proposals and technical white papers.
• Travel to partner sites for HWIL deployment and integration support.

Skills

GNC integration

Controls systems

Electrical system design

Technical data package development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

MATLAB-based analysis tools

Job description

Principal Hardware-in-the-Loop Engineer

The Principal Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) Engineer 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.

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Principal Hardware-in-the-Loop Engineer

The Principal Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) Engineer 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

HWIL Architecture & System Design

• 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)

Integration & Test

• 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

Program & Technical Leadership

• 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

Customer & Capture Support

• 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 or Computer Engineering (Master's preferred)
• 12+ years’ experience in electrical hardware design and avionics integration
• Direct experience designing, building, and deploying HWIL or system test 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

The Salary Range For This Role Is

$137,500 - $234,000

ITAR Requirement

• 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

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. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

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.

ITAR

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