Avionics Engineer - Payloads

About the role

Stratolaunch accelerates the development of next-generation aerospace and defense technologies through reusable hypersonic flight testing. Our autonomous, air-launched Talon-A vehicles provide access to operationally realistic flight environments at speeds exceeding Mach 5, delivering critical data that helps customers validate system performance and advance technologies toward deployment. Our team brings together expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations to solve complex challenges and advance capabilities essential to national security.

Stratolaunch is seeking a Level I, II, or Sr-level Avionics or Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer to support the design, build, integration, and testing of experimental customer payloads on the Talon-A hypersonic vehicles. This position involves working with a multi-disciplinary engineering team, program management, and customers. An ideal candidate exudes passion and an interest in aviation.

Essential Responsibilities

• Evaluate experimental payload requirements to determine fit for integration onto a hypersonic test bed.
• Work across many teams and subsystems to define and implement collection and recording of experimental payload data
• Contribute to instrumentation and telemetry (data) system requirements development, design, testing, & operation for customer payloads
• Develop and support instrumentation and telemetry tests
• Make suggestions and recommendations for improvements, including changes to workflow
• Support Talon-A Payload Integration Lead
• Support technical customer reviews and ensure contract deliverables are on time and meet or exceed customer expectations
• Analyze flight data and generate reports for customers
• Be an effective and professional representative of the company
• Travel, as needed, to support the company
• Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, integrity and fulfillment of commitments

Required Qualifications

• Experience in instrumentation, telemetry, or network engineering in an operational or regulated test environment.
• Experience with data acquisition systems and dataloggers
• Experience working with government procurement processes
• Experience writing system requirements or ability to effectively elicit requirements from a customer
• Experience with designing test equipment to support both bench and in vehicle testing of electronic assemblies
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Ability to acquire and maintain a DOW security clearance

Required Skills

• Proficiency with at least one programming language, including but not limited to C/C++/C#, Python
• Experience with source control systems such as git
• Fundamental experience with laboratory equipment (e.g. oscilloscope, benchtop power supplies, etc.)
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, Visio)

Preferred Qualifications

• Flight test program experience or Mission Control Room console experience
• Experience designing & manufacturing aircraft harnesses
• Aircraft and/or launch vehicle development or design experience (electrical, structures, or propulsion systems)
• Experience with integration and test of payloads onto vehicles
• Expertise with RF devices such as transmitters, receivers, encoders/decoders, or similar
• Experience with environmental qualification of electronic devices intended for flight vehicles.
• Hands-on aircraft build, piloting, or flight test experience
• Active DOW TS/SCI security clearance

Preferred Skills

• Experience with Curtiss-Wright or Safran Data Acquisition Units
• Experience with NI LabVIEW and NI DAQmx
• Experience with requirements management tools such as JAMA or Doors

Education & Experience

• Level I ($86,000-$103,800): Bachelor's degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 0-2 years of engineering experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• Level II ($97,500-$120,000): Bachelor's degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 2-5 years of engineering experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• Sr Level ($120,000-$147,600): Bachelor's degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 5-10 years of engineering experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience

Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable

• This position is located in Mojave, CA. Consideration for hybrid work arrangement with at least 75% on-site time for well-qualified candidates.
• Travel estimated to be <10% in support of the program
• 9/80 schedule

Pay and benefits

Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews.

Benefits and our location(s)

• Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500
• Tuition reimbursement

• This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.
• Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles. The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.

Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You're within a half day's drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight-seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers.

• Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices.
• Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state's best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce.
• Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke's in Lancaster.
• Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won't find anywhere else in the United States.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law: