Avionics Design Manager

Job Title

Avionics Design Manager

Role Summary

The Avionics Design Manager leads a multidisciplinary engineering team responsible for FPGA design and verification, embedded/firmware development, and avionics test engineering for aerospace and defense systems. The role manages technical execution, resource planning, staffing, process improvement, and cross-functional coordination to deliver mission-capable avionics hardware and software.

Experience Level

Senior — requires approximately 10+ years of relevant technical experience and 3+ years of engineering leadership.

Responsibilities

Accountable for technical leadership, delivery, and team management across FPGA, firmware, and test engineering.

• Lead an integrated engineering organization for FPGA design, verification, firmware, and avionics test engineering.
• Oversee development, integration, verification, qualification, and transition to production of avionics hardware and associated software.
• Establish and enforce engineering processes: design reviews, verification planning, configuration management, and quality standards.
• Define FPGA architecture, verification strategy, automated test development, and system integration approach.
• Manage staffing, hiring, mentoring, workload balancing, and employee development across disciplines.
• Create and maintain resource plans aligned to program priorities and business objectives.
• Own schedule execution, technical performance, milestone delivery, and communicate program health and risks to leadership.
• Identify technical, schedule, and cost risks and drive cross-organizational mitigation plans.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Program Management and provide oversight of subcontractor work.

Requirements

Key qualifications and skills required to perform this role.

• Must-have: 10+ years developing FPGA-based digital systems, embedded software, avionics electronics, or automated test systems.
• Must-have: 3+ years of engineering leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Must-have: Demonstrated experience leading complex hardware/software projects from concept through qualification and production.
• Must-have: Strong understanding of FPGA development, digital design, verification methodologies, embedded software, and electrical test systems.
• Must-have: Eligible to work as a U.S. Person and to perform work subject to ITAR/EAR; eligible to obtain and maintain U.S. security clearances.
• Nice-to-have: Experience with SystemVerilog and UVM, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), qualification/environmental testing, configuration management, program or project management, and prior aerospace/defense avionics experience.

Education Requirements

Required: Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline. Preferred: Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.

About the Company

Company: Ursa Major

Headquarters: Berthoud, Colorado, United States

Ursa Major develops high-performance propulsion systems for aerospace and defense, designing and delivering rocket engines and propulsion technologies for hypersonics, satellite maneuvering, launch vehicles, and national-security applications.