Senior Lead Aerospace Avionics Hardware Architect

Southwest Research Institute; Oklahoma; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Research Institute's Strategic Aerospace Department seeks an experienced leader to drive multidisciplinary aerospace avionics hardware development. You will oversee requirements, analysis, testing, and integration across thermal, structural, and electrical systems, guiding lifecycle trades and digital-thread practices.

The role emphasizes technical leadership, government integration activities, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver flightworthy hardware while

Qualifications

• Requires 11+ years in aerospace/avionics hardware development, integration, and verification.
• Experience leading aerospace hardware across thermal, structural, aerodynamic, packaging, or electrical domains.
• Experience applying CFD/FEA/thermal networks to drive design margins and qualification.
• Experience applying systems engineering across hardware lifecycle: requirements, architecture, interfaces, trade studies, configuration control, integration, verification, qualification, sustainment.
• Leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and government integration activities with technical reviews and risk resolution.
• A valid/clear driver's license is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary trade studies across aerodynamics, thermal, structures, stress, electronics packaging, materials, interfaces, 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, support design maturation.
• Translate government and customer needs into system, subsystem, interface, and verification requirements; manage baselines, interfaces, changes, risks, and traceability.
• Build and maintain the digital thread connecting requirements, MBSE models, CAD/CAE data, analyses, ICDs, configuration artifacts, test results, verification evidence, and decisions.
• Lead design reviews, integration/test readiness, anomaly resolution, qualification, airworthiness support, supplier coordination, mentoring of engineers.

Skills

CFD

FEA

CAD/CAE

MBSE

Digital engineering

Education

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

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

CAD/CAE

CFD

FEA

MBSE tools

Job description

Southwest Research Institute's Strategic Aerospace Department seeks an experienced leader to drive multidisciplinary aerospace avionics hardware development. You will oversee requirements, analysis, testing, and integration across thermal, structural, and electrical systems, guiding lifecycle trades and digital-thread practices.

The role emphasizes technical leadership, government integration activities, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver flightworthy hardware while