Principal Avionics Engineer – Ground SystemsHermeus is an aerospace and defense technology company founded to radically accelerate air travel by delivering hypersonic aircraft. The company aims to develop hypersonic aircraft quickly and cost-effectively by integrating hardware-rich, iterative development with modern computing and autonomy. This approach has been validated through design, build, and test of the company's first combined turbojet-ramjet engine and is now being scaled through its first flight vehicle program, Quarterhorse. Hermeus is also developing Darkhorse — an uncrewed hypersonic aircraft designed to deliver unique asymmetric capabilities to the warfighter.Hermeus is seeking a Principal Avionics Engineer – Ground Systems to lead the development, integration, and evolution of our Flight Deck —the modular ground control station that enables mission operations across the Hermeus vehicle portfolio.
This role owns the full system lifecycle of the Flight Deck, including cockpit design, network infrastructure, voice communication systems, electrical distribution, physical security, environmental systems (e.g., HVAC), and maintenance. You'll manage both the initial buildout and future iterations of our ground systems and will act as the primary integrator and Responsible Engineer across hardware, software, operations, and customer teams.Ground Systems Architecture Design & IntegrationLead the design and integration of the Hermeus Flight Deck, ensuring modularity, scalability, and field resilienceOwn end-to-end development of ground avionics including cockpit controls, network topology, electrical distribution, and voice communicationsDefine and decompose system-level requirements into hardware and software solutionsDevelop and oversee comprehensive integrated test plans, including subsystem and system-level verification, incremental integration strategies (e.g., top-down or bottom-up), and continuous integration test execution to validate performance, interoperability, and environmental readinessInfrastructure & Operational SupportOversee power, HVAC, and environmental systems within the Flight Deck to ensure consistent uptime in demanding field environmentsDefine maintenance and upgrade pathways for long-term system supportabilityCross-functional CollaborationPartner with avionics, software, systems, and operations teams to ensure interoperability between air and ground systemsInterface with external suppliers and integrators to source components and develop tailored solutionsFuture Development & StrategyLead the roadmap for Flight Deck evolution to support expanding platforms and mission requirementsEvaluate new technologies and architectures to improve reliability, maintainability, and operator experienceMinimum QualificationsBachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field8+ years of experience designing and integrating complex avionics, control, or electrical systems in mission-critical or aerospace/defense environmentsDemonstrated ability to architect or own sophisticated electrical/network systems from concept through operationStrong understanding of electrical hardware design, networking, digital and analog communications, and integrated test planningPreferred Skills & ExperienceMaster's degree in Electrical, Systems, or Aerospace EngineeringExperience designing ground control stations or mission command systemsProficiency with diagramming and system design tools (Draw.io, Visio), plus electrical harness designFamiliarity with avionics and communication interfaces relevant to ground control—Ethernet, MMF/SMF, ARINC, GPS/INS integration, VoIP communications, modern display/data bus technologiesKnowledge of industry standards applicable to ground systems, including IPC620 (wire harness/assembly), MILSTD810 (environmental), DO160G (ground equipment qualification), DO-178CExperience managing HVAC, UPS, or power distribution systems in mobile or fixed environmentsProven track record of cross-disciplinary collaboration and a hands-on engineering mindsetAt Hermeus, we're building the future of high-speed aviation—and that includes the systems that make it controllable. The Flight Deck isn't just a console—it's a mission-critical backbone for operations. Join us and lead the engineering of the systems that command tomorrow's flight.The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S.
export controls, and therefore, must either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. US persons include U.S.
citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.Hermeus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions at Hermeus are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.