UAS Avionics Systems Engineer - Hands-on Build & Test

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education assistance

Retirement contributions

Healthy work-life balance

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is seeking a UAS Avionics Development Engineer to join a multidisciplinary team in the Intelligent Combat Systems Group in Laurel, MD. You will design and integrate avionics ecosystems, lead hands-on assembly, and advance mission-ready autonomous systems for real users in operational environments.

You will collaborate across mechanical, software, autonomy, and test teams, perform comprehensive testing, and create practical

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Robotics or related engineering field.
• Experience designing, building, integrating, and testing custom uncrewed aerial systems.
• Experience owning technical solutions through build, testing, and iterative improvements.
• Strong understanding of UAS subsystems including avionics, electrical systems, and hardware interfaces.
• Proficiency with UAS autopilot systems (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot) and ground control software.
• Effective cross-disciplinary communication and hands-on lab/field work.
• Ability to obtain a Secret clearance and eligibility for TS/SCI; US citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Own the design and integration of UAS avionics ecosystems from concept through delivery to test teams and end users.
• Lead hands-on assembly and integration of UAS platforms, including wiring harness fabrication, soldering, sensors, and payload integration.
• Develop avionics and ground support solutions balancing performance, mass, power, cost, schedule, reliability, safety, maintainability, and field repairability.
• Collaborate across mechanical, software, autonomy, test, and operations teams to support integrated system performance.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute component-level and integrated system testing; analyze results and drive improvements.
• Produce documentation including as-built configurations, test procedures, and lessons learned.

Skills

UAS avionics

Hands-on integration

Soldering

System testing

PCB design

COTS integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Robotics or related engineering field

Tools

PX4

ArduPilot

PCB design tools

Job description

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is seeking a UAS Avionics Development Engineer to join a multidisciplinary team in the Intelligent Combat Systems Group in Laurel, MD. You will design and integrate avionics ecosystems, lead hands-on assembly, and advance mission-ready autonomous systems for real users in operational environments.

You will collaborate across mechanical, software, autonomy, and test teams, perform comprehensive testing, and create practical