Senior System Engineer

AIR is seeking a Senior System Engineer to lead aircraft-level system engineering activities across the complete development lifecycle of unmanned and autonomous aircraft.

The role requires a broad technical perspective, strong problem-solving capabilities, and a hands-on approach to system integration and debugging. The engineer will work closely with all engineering disciplines, including mechanical, hardware, software, avionics, flight science, power train and flight-test teams.

This position is suited to an experienced system engineer who can translate operational and business needs into clear system requirements, define aircraft-level architecture, manage interfaces, and drive complex technical issues through integration, verification, and flight testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead aircraft-level system engineering activities from concept definition through development, integration, verification, flight testing, and operational support.

• Define and maintain aircraft-level requirements, system architecture, interfaces, and verification methods.

• Translate operational and product needs and high-level objectives into clear, testable technical requirements.

• Coordinate technical activities across multiple engineering teams.

• Lead system verification and validation including integration activities, ground and flight-test campaigns.

• Investigate and resolve complex multidisciplinary technical issues using structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis.

• Perform hands-on debugging of integrated aircraft systems, including hardware, software and avionics.

• Manage system interfaces and ensure compatibility between aircraft subsystems.

• Support system safety, reliability, risk assessment, and requirements traceability activities.

• Participate in design reviews, readiness reviews, failure investigations, and technical decision-making.

• Work with suppliers and external partners on system requirements, interfaces, integration, and qualification.

• Support compliance and certification activities throughout the development lifecycle.

• Identify technical risks, system gaps, and integration challenges, and drive them to closure.

• Maintain clear and structured system engineering documentation.

Required Qualifications:

• B.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

• At least five years of relevant experience in system engineering, aircraft development, unmanned systems, autonomous systems, or other complex multidisciplinary products.

• Experience working across the complete product development lifecycle.

• Hands-on experience with system integration, troubleshooting, and debugging.

• Ability to analyze complex multidisciplinary problems and lead effective technical resolution.

• Experience defining system requirements, architectures, interfaces, and verification activities.

• Strong understanding of interactions between hardware, software, mechanical systems, avionics, sensors and control systems.

• Ability to work effectively with multiple engineering teams and technical disciplines.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to work independently, take technical ownership, and operate effectively in a fast-paced development environment.

Advantages

• Experience with model-based systems engineering, SysML, or MBSE tools and methodologies.

• M Sc. in Systems Engineering.

• Practical experience with aviation development and certification standards, including ARP4754A, ARP4761, DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160, ASTM standards, or equivalent.

• Experience with safety-critical or mission-critical systems.

• Familiarity with requirements-management, configuration-management, simulation, or data-analysis tools.

• Experience working with aviation authorities, certification organizations, or aerospace suppliers.

Personal Attributes

• Practical and hands-on engineering mindset.

• Strong technical curiosity and problem-solving ability.

• Systems-level thinking with attention to detail.

• Ability to understand both high-level aircraft objectives and detailed subsystem behavior.

• Strong ownership and accountability.

• Ability to make informed technical decisions under uncertainty.

• Effective collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.