Senior HWIL Engineer - GNC & Avionics Lead

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

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.