Principal Engineer - Airborne Hardware

The Principal Engineer - Airborne Hardware at Great River Technology leads hardware development for airborne avionics programs, concentrating on ARINC 818, VHDL/FPGA design, and certification support for high performance aerospace systems. This onsite role is based in Albuquerque, NM.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical authority for all aspects of ARINC 818 design, overseeing Fibre Channel implementations, video formats, timing, and link integrity.
• Drive architectural definition, detailed design, and implementation of ARINC 818 interfaces for advanced avionics systems.
• Create and execute comprehensive test plans and procedures for ARINC 818 compliance, robustness, and performance validation, often using custom test rigs and advanced instrumentation.
• Develop and refine simulation methodologies for ARINC 818 links, including model development, signal integrity analysis, and performance prediction in complex environments.
• Design, develop, and verify complex VHDL code for high‑performance FPGA devices (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 DSP algorithms and video processing pipelines within FPGAs.
• Develop comprehensive verification environments using VHDL, UVM, and related methodologies to ensure design integrity and functional correctness.
• Lead the full lifecycle hardware development for airborne electronic systems, from requirements through integration, verification, and production support.
• Conduct in‑depth analyses of power consumption, component stress, worst‑case tolerances, and reliability for critical hardware components.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams including Systems Engineering, Software Development, and Manufacturing to ensure seamless integration and optimal system performance.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior and mid‑level hardware engineers, fostering technical excellence and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate deep understanding and proven experience with aerospace certification standards.
• Contribute to airworthiness documentation generation and review, including hardware design plans, technical requirements, functional and design specifications, qualification test plans and reports.
• Ensure designs adhere to industry best practices, internal standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify, diagnose, and resolve complex hardware issues using advanced diagnostic tools and methodologies.
• Stay informed on emerging technologies, industry trends, and research in digital video, high‑speed interfaces, and FPGA technology to drive innovation.
• Propose and implement design improvements for existing products, focusing on quality, cost reduction, and obsolescence management.

Requirements

• An accredited Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• More than 10 years of progressive hardware design and development experience in the aerospace or defense sectors.
• Extensive experience with VHDL for complex FPGA development in aerospace applications.
• A proven track record of leading technical projects and mentoring engineering teams.
• Strong foundation in digital circuit design, high‑speed digital interfaces, and signal integrity.
• Proficiency with electronic design automation tools for schematic capture, simulation (ModelSim/QuestaSim, Vivado Simulator), and FPGA development (Xilinx, Vivado).
• Experience using test equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and network analyzers.
• Excellent problem solving, analytical, and communication abilities.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, collaborative, and highly regulated environment.

Technologies

• ARINC 818
• Fibre Channel
• VHDL
• FPGA
• Xilinx
• Vivado
• ModelSim
• QuestaSim
• Vivado Simulator
• UVM
• Python
• Oscilloscopes
• Logic analyzers
• Spectrum analyzers
• Network analyzers

Compensation

Salary range: USD 130,000 to 200,000 per year.

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