Senior Aerospace Avionics Hardware Lead

Southwest Research Institute; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 125,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio seeks a senior aerospace hardware engineer to lead avionics and mission hardware development. You will manage lifecycle engineering, drive digital-thread integration, and coordinate Government/DoD interfaces to deliver high-confidence hardware solutions.

The role requires 11+ years in aerospace hardware, strong CFD/FEA/CAD skills, MBSE expertise, and proven leadership. A valid driver’s license is required, and U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Systems Engineering.
• 11+ years directly supporting aerospace/avionics hardware development.
• 11+ years applying CFD/FEA/thermal networks and CAD/CAE for design and qualification.
• 11+ years leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and government integration activities.
• Driver's license required.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary trade studies across aerodynamics, thermal, structures, stress, electronics packaging, and aircraft integration; convert results into design decisions and requirements.
• Develop and review CAD, CFD, FEA, thermal, structural, stress, and packaging analyses; correlate models with test data, assess margins and uncertainty.
• Translate government and customer needs into system, subsystem, interface, and verification requirements; manage baselines and risks.
• Build and maintain the digital thread linking requirements, MBSE models, CAD/CAE data, analyses, ICDs, configuration artifacts, tests, and decisions.
• Lead design reviews, integration/test readiness, anomaly resolution, qualification, airworthiness support, supplier coordination, and mentoring of engineers.

Skills

Trade studies

CAD/CFD/FEA

MBSE / digital thread

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Govt integration

Driver's license

Education

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

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

CFD

FEA

CAD/CAE

Job description

Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio seeks a senior aerospace hardware engineer to lead avionics and mission hardware development. You will manage lifecycle engineering, drive digital-thread integration, and coordinate Government/DoD interfaces to deliver high-confidence hardware solutions.

The role requires 11+ years in aerospace hardware, strong CFD/FEA/CAD skills, MBSE expertise, and proven leadership. A valid driver’s license is required, and U.S.