Payload Avionics Systems Engineer

Job Title: Payload Systems Engineer

Job Description

The Payload Systems Engineer will serve as a senior technical leader overseeing air-launched hypersonic vehicle payload avionics and data systems, with a strong focus on requirements definition, integration, and test. This role works closely with a multi-disciplinary engineering team, program leadership, and payload customers to ensure that payload systems are properly integrated, thoroughly tested, and fully compliant with customer and mission requirements. The position is ideal for an engineer with substantial systems engineering experience and a background in avionics and data systems who enjoys working in a dynamic environment and taking ownership of complex technical challenges.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and contribute to the development, documentation, and management of payload avionics and data systems requirements for air-launched hypersonic vehicles.
• Lead and support the integration of payload avionics and data systems into the vehicle, ensuring compatibility with overall vehicle architecture and mission objectives.
• Collaborate closely with payload integration and test engineers, test responsible engineers, program leadership, and payload customers to define and implement payload integration, test, and data collection activities.
• Develop, decompose, and track system and payload-level requirements, ensuring traceability from customer needs through design, implementation, and verification.
• Ensure vehicle payloads are tested in a manner that fully meets customer and mission requirements, including functional, performance, and environmental testing.
• Participate in and contribute to test planning, including creation and review of test plans, procedures, and configurations.
• Support and participate in Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), test execution, and post-test activities, including vehicle troubleshooting and anomaly resolution.
• Architect, optimize, and maintain methodologies for data review and analysis, including the selection and improvement of data review and analysis tools.
• Set standards for test planning, documentation, and reporting, and ensure that these standards are consistently met across payload test activities.
• Contribute to the systems engineering content for major technical reviews such as System Requirements Review (SRR), Preliminary Design Review (PDR), and Critical Design Review (CDR).
• Coordinate with a multi-disciplinary internal team, including systems, electrical and avionics, mechanical, propulsion, GNC and flight controls, and aerodynamics engineers to ensure cohesive system-level solutions.
• Interface externally with payload customers to clarify requirements, present technical status, and resolve issues related to payload integration and performance.
• Support technical risk identification, management, and mitigation activities related to payload avionics, data systems, and vehicle integration.
• Maintain configuration control of payload-related requirements, documentation, and design artifacts using configuration and requirements management tools.
• Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, and integrity in fulfilling technical and program commitments, and foster a culture of accountability and high-quality engineering.

Essential Skills

• Knowledge of, and direct experience with, at least two of the following disciplines: Systems Engineering, Electrical and Avionics Systems, Mechanical Systems, Propulsion Systems, GNC and Flight Controls, or Aerodynamics.
• Previous systems engineering experience, including requirements development, decomposition, and management.
• Experience contributing systems engineering content for major technical reviews such as System Requirements Review (SRR), Preliminary Design Review (PDR), or Critical Design Review (CDR).
• Technical experience with avionics and/or data systems, particularly in the context of vehicle or payload integration and test.
• Hands-on experience with requirements analysis and requirements management for complex engineering systems.
• Experience with integration and test activities, including planning, execution, and post-test data review.
• Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities and program needs in a dynamic engineering environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly present technical information to diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency with MS Office tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, for documentation, analysis, and communication.
• Familiarity with CAD tools, with SolidWorks preferred, to support review and understanding of mechanical and system designs.
• Familiarity with configuration management systems such as Jira for tracking work, issues, and changes.
• Familiarity with requirements management systems such as DOORS and similar tools for capturing and tracking requirements.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a security clearance, as required for program participation.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in small, dynamic engineering teams where each member often assumes multiple responsibilities and contributes across disciplines.
• Familiarity with avionics, instrumentation, software, structures, fluid systems, and liquid rockets, with avionics and instrumentation experience considered highest priority.
• Experience maintaining aerospace industry standards for vehicle configuration management and change control.
• Experience with air-launched hypersonic vehicle development, including exposure to relevant design, integration, and test practices.
• Experience defining, managing, and verifying requirements for hypersonic vehicles with hot-structure airframes.
• Experience with technical risk identification, management, and mitigation for complex aerospace systems.
• Current or prior Department of Defense Secret security clearance.
• Experience with programming languages such as MATLAB and Python for data analysis, modeling, or tool development.
• Experience with CAD tools, with SolidWorks preferred, for detailed design review and collaboration with mechanical and structural teams.
• Experience with configuration management systems such as Jira for issue tracking and project coordination.
• Experience with requirements management tools such as DOORS and similar platforms for structured requirements engineering.
• Familiarity with instrumentation and flight test environments, including data acquisition and test instrumentation concepts.
• Experience writing and decomposing payload requirements for avionics and data systems.
• Exposure to flight test programs, including participation in test planning, execution, and data analysis.

Work Environment

This position is based in Mojave, California, supporting the development and test of air-launched hypersonic vehicles in a hands-on aerospace environment. The role involves close collaboration with a multi-disciplinary engineering team and regular interaction with program leadership and payload customers. Work typically follows a 9/80 schedule, providing every other Friday off, while still supporting program milestones and test campaigns as needed. Travel is estimated to be less than 10% to support program activities such as tests, reviews, and customer meetings. The environment emphasizes rigorous systems engineering, configuration management using tools such as Jira, and structured requirements management using platforms such as DOORS. Team members have access to CAD tools such as SolidWorks and standard office productivity software. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage, paid maternity and parental leave, a 401(k) savings plan with a 50% company match up to a specified contribution limit, and tuition reimbursement to support ongoing professional development. The culture values integrity, accountability, technical excellence, and collaborative problem-solving in pursuit of challenging aerospace missions.

This is a Permanent position based out of Mojave, CA.

The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $206000.00/yr.

9/80 scheduleHealthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)Paid Maternity and Parental Leave50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500Tuition reimbursement

This is a fully onsite position in Mojave,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Apr 22, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.