Avionics Engineer Jobs
Avionics Engineer jobs are open across defense contractors, commercial aerospace, and government agencies, from entry-level to senior and principal roles, with specializations in flight control systems, embedded software, and avionics integration. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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About Varda
Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda's W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.
From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.
Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.
About This Role
The Systems Engineer II, Avionics oversees the design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for our Winnebago Spaceship. They ensure that all systems are ready for both launch and operational phases, requiring a deep understanding of avionics system design, manufacturing processes, and operational protocols. They closely collaborate with various engineering teams and navigate conflicting requirements to achieve seamless system integration. Their expertise will be crucial in ensuring the vehicle meets its mission objectives, from space manufacturing to hypersonic testing during reentry.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with cross functional teams to define project scopes and initial requirements, guiding designs from concept to prototype and full-scale production.
- Develop electrical architecture, system diagrams, and budgets to account for power, telemetry, channel count, size, and mass predictions used to communicate closing vehicle solutions to company level objectives.
- Analyze architecture for potential faults and risks, develop comprehensive mitigation plans, resolve uncertainties, and collaborate on Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) or operational workarounds when hardware solutions are unfeasible.
- Conduct comprehensive verification plans for avionics systems on flight and HITL hardware, ensuring readiness for launch and compliance with mission objectives for space and reentry operations.
- Participate in mission operations as an Avionics specialist or system operator, where they'll determine system health, suggest corrective actions to reentry commit criteria for operational success.
- Oversee the integration of the Winnebago avionics systems, acting as the primary point of contact for integrated systems investigations.
- Design, build, and operate the Hardware In The Loop (HITL) testbeds, simulating the spacecraft on the ground to ensure all systems are mission ready.
- Develop avionics ground infrastructure, support the design and integration of test racks and R&D equipment used to power and communicate with the flight vehicles. Contribute to developing engineering best practices, focusing on increased test automation and efficiency.
- Draw from their experiences to help mentor and train new engineers, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement within the team.
Basic Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
- Experience: 3+ years of experience in system design, test planning, and validation.
- Programming Skills: Proficiency in programming and debugging with Python.
- Technical Expertise: Experience with power supplies, modular DAQ systems, RTD and 4-20mA devices, and general test equipment.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Proven experience taking vehicle electrical systems from concept to operational production.
- Prior experience setting up HITL testbeds, managing configuration control, and conducting system level tests.
- Familiarity with Unix environments and the ability to use command line utilities.
- Experience developing test cases and test equipment to meet vehicle operating conditions.
- Strong project or program management skills.
- Relevant prior roles: Avionics Hardware, FPGA Engineer, Electronics Test Engineer, Electrical Systems Engineer
Pay Range
- Salary range: Engineer II: $119,543 - $152,749/ per year.
- This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.
- Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
- You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards
Benefits
Consider your benefits covered for launch. At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well-being, and life beyond work. Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full-time employees and interns.
Regular Full-Time Positions:
Health & Wellness
- Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
- Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
- 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
- Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
Financial & Retirement
- Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
- 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
- Relocation support for new hires, if needed
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
Benefits for Internship Positions:
Health & Wellness
- Paid observed holidays.
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses.
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents.
Financial
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.
- Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible
- Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible.
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
ITAR Requirements
Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire "U.S. persons" who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
"US person" means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice
Read more Read more
Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
About Varda
Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda's W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.
From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.
Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.
About This Role
The Systems Engineer II, Avionics oversees the design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for our Winnebago Spaceship. They ensure that all systems are ready for both launch and operational phases, requiring a deep understanding of avionics system design, manufacturing processes, and operational protocols. They closely collaborate with various engineering teams and navigate conflicting requirements to achieve seamless system integration. Their expertise will be crucial in ensuring the vehicle meets its mission objectives, from space manufacturing to hypersonic testing during reentry.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with cross functional teams to define project scopes and initial requirements, guiding designs from concept to prototype and full-scale production.
- Develop electrical architecture, system diagrams, and budgets to account for power, telemetry, channel count, size, and mass predictions used to communicate closing vehicle solutions to company level objectives.
- Analyze architecture for potential faults and risks, develop comprehensive mitigation plans, resolve uncertainties, and collaborate on Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) or operational workarounds when hardware solutions are unfeasible.
- Conduct comprehensive verification plans for avionics systems on flight and HITL hardware, ensuring readiness for launch and compliance with mission objectives for space and reentry operations.
- Participate in mission operations as an Avionics specialist or system operator, where they'll determine system health, suggest corrective actions to reentry commit criteria for operational success.
- Oversee the integration of the Winnebago avionics systems, acting as the primary point of contact for integrated systems investigations.
- Design, build, and operate the Hardware In The Loop (HITL) testbeds, simulating the spacecraft on the ground to ensure all systems are mission ready.
- Develop avionics ground infrastructure, support the design and integration of test racks and R&D equipment used to power and communicate with the flight vehicles. Contribute to developing engineering best practices, focusing on increased test automation and efficiency.
- Draw from their experiences to help mentor and train new engineers, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement within the team.
Basic Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
- Experience: 3+ years of experience in system design, test planning, and validation.
- Programming Skills: Proficiency in programming and debugging with Python.
- Technical Expertise: Experience with power supplies, modular DAQ systems, RTD and 4-20mA devices, and general test equipment.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Proven experience taking vehicle electrical systems from concept to operational production.
- Prior experience setting up HITL testbeds, managing configuration control, and conducting system level tests.
- Familiarity with Unix environments and the ability to use command line utilities.
- Experience developing test cases and test equipment to meet vehicle operating conditions.
- Strong project or program management skills.
- Relevant prior roles: Avionics Hardware, FPGA Engineer, Electronics Test Engineer, Electrical Systems Engineer
Pay Range
- Salary range: Engineer II: $119,543 - $152,749/ per year.
- This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.
- Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
- You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards
Benefits
Consider your benefits covered for launch. At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well-being, and life beyond work. Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full-time employees and interns.
Regular Full-Time Positions:
Health & Wellness
- Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
- Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
- 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
- Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
Financial & Retirement
- Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
- 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
- Relocation support for new hires, if needed
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
Benefits for Internship Positions:
Health & Wellness
- Paid observed holidays.
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses.
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents.
Financial
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.
- Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible
- Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible.
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
ITAR Requirements
Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire "U.S. persons" who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
"US person" means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice
Read more Read more
Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
Avionics Engineer Jobs by Experience Level
See All 312+ Avionics Engineer Jobs
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Find Avionics Engineer JobsAvionics Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Blue Origin61
- Collins Aerospace20
- SpaceX18
- Amazon15
- Impulse Space12
Top Industries Hiring
- Aerospace & Defense
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
- Transportation & Logistics
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in avionics engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field
- Experience with avionics systems development under DO-178C or DO-254 standards
- Proficiency in ARINC 429, MIL-STD-1553, or other avionics data bus protocols
- Active or eligibility for Secret or Top Secret security clearance
- Hands-on experience with avionics bench testing, integration, and verification
- Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering tools such as MATLAB or Simulink
Tips for Your Avionics Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to system types
Call out the specific avionics systems you've worked on, whether that's flight management systems, ARINC 429 data buses, or TCAS. Recruiters and hiring managers scan for exact system names, not general phrases like 'avionics experience.'
List your active certifications prominently
DO-178C software levels, DO-254 hardware assurance, and FAA Airman certificates carry real weight. Put them in a dedicated section near the top of your resume so they're visible before a hiring manager reads your work history.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists avionics engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter openings by contract type and clearance
Many avionics roles require an active Secret or Top Secret clearance, and some are contract-to-hire rather than direct. Sorting by these filters upfront saves you from advancing in a process that doesn't fit your situation.
Prepare a systems integration scenario for interviews
Avionics interviews frequently include a technical scenario where you walk through how you'd integrate a new LRU into an existing architecture. Practice explaining your verification approach, interface control decisions, and how you'd handle a requirements conflict.
Negotiate against the clearance cost, not just market rate
Employers sponsoring or maintaining your clearance factor that cost into compensation budgets. If you hold an active clearance, that's a concrete asset in salary discussions, not just a checkbox. Bring it up directly when the offer comes.
Avionics Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most avionics engineers?
Blue Origin, Collins Aerospace, and SpaceX are hiring the most avionics engineers right now, with openings concentrated in California, Washington, and Texas, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Defense primes and commercial aircraft OEMs tend to post the highest volume of roles.
How many avionics engineer jobs are remote?
About 45% of avionics engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the hands-on lab and hardware integration work central to most roles. Sub-areas like avionics software verification, simulation modeling, and requirements analysis are the most likely to allow remote arrangements.
How do you become an avionics engineer?
Start with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field. From there, build hands-on experience with avionics hardware and software through internships, co-ops, or entry-level roles focused on systems integration or testing. Familiarity with aviation standards like DO-178C and DO-254 is often expected early in your career, so pursue training or coursework in those areas as soon as possible.
How do you get hired as an avionics engineer with little experience?
Target roles titled avionics test engineer or avionics integration technician, which are common entry points that build the hands-on system knowledge employers want at the next level. Highlight any senior design projects, lab coursework, or personal projects involving embedded systems, data buses, or RF hardware. Clearance eligibility is also a real differentiator at the entry level, since many junior candidates don't yet have it.
What does the avionics engineer interview process look like?
The process typically starts with a recruiter screen focused on your background and clearance status, followed by a technical phone or video interview covering systems knowledge, data bus protocols, and relevant standards. Finalists usually complete an on-site or virtual technical panel with engineers from the team, which often includes a whiteboard or scenario-based problem around integration, fault isolation, or requirements verification. A hiring manager conversation is usually the final stage before an offer.
Where can I find and apply to avionics engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to avionics engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search for roles that match your specialization and experience level, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 312+ Avionics Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Avionics Engineer Jobs