Principal Engineer - Airborne Hardware

Great River Technology is seeking a Principal Engineer - Airborne Hardware to guide the hardware design and integration of airborne avionics. This onsite role in Phoenix centers on ARINC 818 interfaces, VHDL/FPGA development, verification, and certification within regulated aerospace environments. The successful candidate will lead technically, mentor peers, and ensure robust, high-performance hardware for mission-critical systems.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical authority for ARINC 818 design, including Fibre Channel protocols, video formats, timing, and link integrity.
• Lead the architectural definition and detailed implementation of ARINC 818 interfaces for advanced avionics systems.
• Develop and execute comprehensive test plans for ARINC 818 compliance, robustness, and performance validation, often using custom test rigs and advanced instrumentation.
• Pioneer and refine simulation methodologies for ARINC 818 links, including model development, signal integrity analysis, and performance prediction in complex system environments.
• Design, develop, and verify complex VHDL code for high-performance FPGAs (eg, Xilinx) used in mission-critical aerospace applications.
• Apply expertise in FPGA architecture, floor planning, timing closure, synthesis, and place-and-route optimization to meet demanding aerospace requirements.
• Implement digital signal processing and video processing pipelines within FPGAs.
• Develop comprehensive verification environments using VHDL, UVM, or other appropriate methodologies to ensure design integrity and functional correctness.
• Lead the full lifecycle hardware development for airborne electronic systems, from requirements definition and conceptual design through detailed design, integration, verification, and production support.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of power consumption, component stress, worst-case tolerances, and reliability for critical hardware components.
• Collaborate across Systems Engineering, Software Development, and Manufacturing to ensure seamless integration and optimum system performance.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior and mid-level hardware engineers, fostering technical excellence and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive hardware design and development experience in the aerospace or defense sector.
• Extensive experience with VHDL for complex FPGA development in aerospace applications.
• Proven ability to lead technical projects and mentor engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of digital circuit design principles, high-speed digital interfaces, and signal integrity.
• Proficiency with EDA tools for schematic capture, simulation (ModelSim/QuestaSim, Vivado Simulator), and FPGA development (Xilinx, Vivado).
• Experience with test equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and network analyzers.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to operate in a dynamic, highly regulated environment.

Technologies

• VHDL
• UVM
• ModelSim
• QuestaSim
• Vivado
• Xilinx
• Vivado Simulator
• Python

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Pet insurance
• Professional development assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Location

Phoenix, AZ (onsite)

Compensation

USD 130,000 - 200,000 per year

Company Overview

Great River Technology is a pioneering leader in high-performance digital video and data development tools and services tailored for the aerospace industry. Since 1996, the company has built strategic partnerships with top-tier commercial and military organizations worldwide, including major aircraft manufacturers, defense contractors, and aerospace innovators.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with other aerospace data bus standards.
• Experience with Python or other scripting languages for test automation and data analysis.