Senior Systems Engineer - F-16 Avionics

Description

DESCRIPTION

Are you an experienced systems engineering leader looking for the opportunity to become the technical expert behind avionics products that support one of the most widely flown fighter aircraft in the world? Innovative Aerosystems is seeking a Sr. Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership for the company's F-16 avionics products. This role offers the unique opportunity to work within a small, highly collaborative engineering team where critical design decisions, system architecture, integration, testing, and product development are managed under one roof.

The successful candidate will serve as the technical authority and Subject Matter Expert for IA's F-16 products, providing oversight across mechanical, electrical, software, manufacturing, and testing disciplines. This individual will be responsible for driving system-level decisions, managing technical risks, and serving as the primary technical interface with our external manufacturing partner.

The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of the F-16 avionics architecture and its components, along with a clear picture of how the aircraft's block upgrades have changed avionics hardware, software, and interfaces over time. Knowledge of the F-16 Flight Control System and Display System is a large plus. In this role, you will be the trusted technical voice supporting proposals, technical interchange meetings, and troubleshooting activities with customers and suppliers.

This position is ideal for an engineering professional who enjoys solving complex multidisciplinary challenges, influencing product direction, and making a direct impact on the success of a combat proven aircraft that continues to evolve.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides technical leadership and systems engineering oversight throughout the entire product lifecycle, from requirements definition through production and support.
• Serves as the primary technical authority for IA's F-16 products and guides all major engineering decisions.
• Acts as the Subject Matter Expert on F-16 avionics architecture, components, and interfaces for internal teams, customers, and suppliers.
• Leads the technical content on defense proposals, including the technical approach, scope definition, basis of estimate, and risk assessment.
• Represents IA in technical interchange meetings with prime contractors, U.S. Government customers, and international F-16 operators.
• Leads troubleshooting and root cause investigations for avionics issues reported from the field, production, and the integration laboratory.
• Acts as the primary interface between Innovative Aerosystems and the external manufacturing partner, ensuring design intent, technical requirements, and program objectives are successfully communicated and executed.
• Defines and manages system-level requirements, interfaces, architecture, and verification strategies.
• Leads multidisciplinary engineering activities involving mechanical, electrical, avionics, software, controls, and integration disciplines.
• Coordinates system trade studies and design reviews to balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and cost objectives.
• Identifies technical risks, develops mitigation plans, and drives resolution of complex engineering challenges.
• Oversees system integration, testing, validation, and performance assessment activities.
• Works closely with engineering leadership to establish program priorities, resource needs, and technical roadmaps.
• Supports development of product specifications, requirements documentation, interface definitions, and verification procedures.
• Provides technical mentorship and guidance to engineering team members.
• Evaluates design changes and engineering proposals to ensure alignment with system requirements and program objectives.
• Supports customer interactions, technical presentations, and project reviews as required.
• Maintains awareness of applicable aerospace regulations, industry standards, and engineering best practices.
• Assists with recruiting, interviewing, and evaluating engineering candidates.
• Responsible for maintaining overall technical integrity and configuration control throughout the program lifecycle.

Requirements

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizen with security clearance or ability to receive a security clearance
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of aerospace engineering experience with increasing technical leadership responsibilities.
• Minimum of 5 years of systems engineering experience leading complex aerospace or aviation-related development programs.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering processes, requirements management, architecture development, integration, verification, and validation.
• Demonstrated experience working across mechanical, electrical, software, and test engineering disciplines.
• Understanding of flight vehicle architectures, avionics systems, propulsion systems, controls, sensors, communications systems, and vehicle integration principles.
• Working knowledge of the F-16 avionics architecture, including mission computers, data buses, cockpit displays, sensors, and the interfaces between them.
• Understanding of the F-16 block upgrade history and how each upgrade affected avionics components, interfaces, and software.
• Experience supporting proposals, technical interchange meetings, and customer design reviews.
• Experience coordinating with external development, manufacturing, or production partners.
• Proven ability to make sound technical decisions while balancing performance, schedule, cost, and risk considerations.
• Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, and technical troubleshooting capabilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to effectively lead technical discussions with engineering teams, customers, suppliers, and executive leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Knowledge of the F-16 Flight Control System, including the flight control computer and its interfaces with aircraft sensors and actuators, is a large plus.
• Knowledge of the F-16 Head-Down and Head-Up Display systems is a large plus.
• Experience with MIL-STD-1553 data bus integration on fighter aircraft.
• Experience developing highly integrated aerospace systems from concept through production.
• Experience with MBSE methodologies and requirements management tools such as IBM DOORS is a plus.
• Familiarity with aerospace certification, compliance, and safety assessment processes.
• Experience with system safety analyses including FHA, FMEA, and fault tree methodologies.
• Experience supporting flight test programs and system validation activities.
• Understanding of software development lifecycle processes and embedded systems development.
• F-16 maintenance experience, or flight operations experience is a plus.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, bend, and stretch consistent with a typical engineering office and laboratory environment.
• Must be able to inspect assemblies, prototypes, and engineering hardware.
• Must be able to lift and carry components weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Must be able to travel periodically to customer, supplier, manufacturing, and      test locations.
• Must be able to participate in integration, ground test, and flight test      activities as required.
• Must be able to operate standard computer equipment and engineering development      tools.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

• Learn Company F-16 products, technologies, and development programs within six (6) months.
• Learn Company procedures and engineering processes within three (3) months.
• Gain working knowledge of the IA Quality System within three (3) months.
• Develop familiarity with applicable aerospace standards, certification considerations, and compliance requirements.
• Maintain current knowledge of industry advancements involving aerospace systems, controls, avionics, propulsion technologies, sensors, and advanced manufacturing methods.
• Continuously expand understanding of emerging technologies relevant to future product development initiatives.

All IA positions may include duties beyond those outlined within a description or generally expected within the business; however, employees are expected to raise questions regarding any task that may exceed their professional qualifications or physical capabilities.

All IA associates are expected to take responsibility for the safety of themselves and their colleagues, the security of company facilities, and the protection of proprietary information and technologies.

Why Join Innovative Aerosystems?

At Innovative Aerosystems, you will be part of a focused team tackling complex aerospace challenges with the agility and influence that only a smaller organization can provide. You will have the opportunity to shape system architecture, influence product strategy, collaborate directly with manufacturing partners, and see your engineering decisions support an aircraft flown by air forces around the world. This is a hands-on leadership role where your contributions will have a visible and lasting impact on the success of IA's F-16 products.

Innovative Aerosystems (IA) is an Equal Employment Opportunity and VEVRAA Employer. IA is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibits discrimination against all individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Moreover, IA is committed to company-wide affirmative action to employ and advance individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.