UAS Avionics Development Engineer

About the Role

The Intelligent Combat Systems Group at APL is seeking UAS Avionics Development Engineers to join multidisciplinary teams transforming rough ideas into operational uncrewed air systems. The mission is to ensure the Nation maintains an operational advantage on the future battlefield through advances in artificial intelligence, autonomy, human-machine teaming, and novel uncrewed aircraft design and testing.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the design and integration of UAS avionics ecosystems from concept development and trade studies through delivery to test teams and end users.
• Lead and participate in the hands-on assembly and integration of UAS platforms, including: component installation, custom wiring harness fabrication, soldering, sensors, and payload integration.
• Develop avionics ecosystems that enable UAS to complete unique missions, including PCB design/build/checkout, software development and interface designs (e.g., UART, RS232, RS485).
• Translate mission needs and operational constraints into practical, producible avionics and ground support solutions while balancing performance, mass, power, cost, schedule, reliability, safety, maintainability, and field repairability.
• Collaborate across mechanical, software, autonomy, test, and operations teams to ensure design decisions support the performance of the complete integrated system.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute component level and integrated system testing, analyze results, identify root causes, and drive iterative design improvements.
• Communicate technical risks, design issues, integration challenges, and schedule impacts, and help drive corrective actions.
• Produce practical documentation, including as-built configurations, test procedures, checklists, and lessons learned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Robotics or a related engineering field.
• Demonstrated professional, military, or substantial hands-on project experience designing, building, integrating, and testing custom uncrewed aerial systems, aircraft, robotics, or other complex hardware systems.
• Experience owning technical solutions through build, testing, troubleshooting, and iterative improvement.
• Strong understanding of UAS subsystems, including avionics, electrical systems, payload integration, and hardware interfaces.
• Proficient with UAS autopilot systems (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot) and their associated ground control software.
• Effective communication skills across mechanical, electrical, software, test, and operations disciplines.
• Enjoy working hands-on in laboratories and field environments, comfortable moving between engineering design, prototype fabrication, system integration, testing, and failure investigation.
• Hold an active Secret security clearance and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI level clearance.
• U.S. citizenship is required.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant professional experience with UAS avionics development, or prototype hardware (preferred).
• Possess experience integrating avionics, including the selection, installation, checkout, and troubleshooting of COTS components (sensors, flight computers, communications equipment etc) (preferred).
• Led or made significant technical contributions to multiple prototype build-test-learn cycles and can describe key failures, corrective actions, and resulting improvements (preferred).
• Hold a current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and have flight experience across multiple UAS platforms (preferred).
• Supported field testing or flight operations where hardware readiness, logistics, schedule pressure, operators, and evolving prototype hardware had to be managed simultaneously (preferred).
• Experience developing CONEMPs (Concepts of Employment) and mission system architectures for UAS (preferred).
• Hold an active TS/SCI security clearance (preferred).

About Us

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is dedicated to solving critical defense, security, space, and science challenges. APL offers a vibrant culture, generous benefits including education assistance and retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. The APL campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area.

Pay Range: $100,000 - $245,000 Annually