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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal VMS/Fly-by-Wire Systems Engineer - **Company:** HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE USA - **Location:** San Luis Obispo, CA, United States - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Automation of Tests, Configuration Management, Collaborative Software, Communications Protocols, Computer Engineering, Desktop Computing, Ethernet, Failure Mode Effects Analysis, Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulation, Python (Programming Language), MATLAB, Regression Analysis, Systems Development Life Cycle, Regression Testing, Requirements Traceability, Simulink, Software Engineering, Stateflow, Systems Architecture, System Testing, Systems Integration, Safety Critical Systems, Functional Dependencies, Modeling and Simulation, DO-178B - **Published:** September 12, 2026 - **Apply:** https://usa.honda-ri.com/-/principal-vms/fly-by-wire-systems-engineer?redirect=%2Fassociate-positions ## About the Role * Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline. * Master's degree in a relevant technical or engineering-management discipline is preferred. * Twelve or more years of aerospace flight-control, FBW, VMS, or other safety-critical aircraft-systems development experience. * Demonstrated experience leading FBW architecture, requirements, integration, verification, and certification activities from concept through ground and flight test. * Experience with redundant flight-control computers, sensors, actuator-control electronics, electro-mechanical actuation, real-time networks, and system suppliers. * Hands-on experience developing and integrating FBW logic using model-based development and executing system testing across MIL, SIL, PIL, and HIL environments. * Experience with eVTOL, powered-lift, rotorcraft, hybrid-electric aircraft, or other highly integrated aircraft is preferred., * Expertise in VMS, FBW architecture, requirements decomposition, functional allocation, interface definition, system integration, system safety, and requirements-based testing. * Strong understanding of flight-control computers, control-law integration, actuation systems, redundancy management, real-time embedded systems, and failure management. * Experience with aircraft communication protocols and networks such as ARINC 429, CAN, RS-485, Ethernet, AFDX, or Time-Triggered Ethernet. * Hands-on proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink/Stateflow for model-based development of FBW logic, executable-model simulation, model reviews, requirements traceability, and DO-331-aligned workflows. * Proficiency in Python for automated test execution, stimulus generation, data acquisition and reduction, regression analysis, reporting, and integration with laboratory test environments. * Experience with MBSE, requirements-management, configuration-management, problem-reporting, and collaboration tools is preferred. * Strong supplier-management, technical-leadership, troubleshooting, communication, mentoring, and decision-making skills. Job-Specific Technical Skills * Expertise in FBW systems architecture, integration, safety, verification, and certification. * Strong knowledge of flight-control computers, control laws, actuation, redundancy, embedded systems, and fault management. * Experience with ARINC 429, CAN, Ethernet, AFDX, TTE, and related aerospace networks. * Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink/Stateflow and Python for model-based development, verification, and test automation. * Familiarity with MBSE, requirements, configuration, and issue-management tools. * Proven technical leadership, supplier management, mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration skills. ## Description This is a hands-on leadership role requiring model-based development of FBW logic, system integration and testing, and Python-based test automation. Reporting to the VMS Director, the engineer will serve as the onsite technical focal point for delivering a safe, certifiable, and high-performance FBW solution for Honda's next-generation hybrid-electric eVTOL aircraft., * Lead the FBW system architecture, functional decomposition, requirements allocation, design baselines, and interface-control development for prototype and type-certification aircraft. * Define the physical and functional architecture for flight-control computers, sensors, actuator-control electronics, flight-control actuation, communication networks, and power interfaces. * Define redundancy, fault-containment, synchronization, cross-channel monitoring, command-selection/voting, health-monitoring, reversionary-mode, and degraded-operation requirements. * Manage FBW interfaces with control laws, avionics, hybrid-electric propulsion, electrical power, safety, flight-test, and other aircraft systems. System Design and Supplier Technical Execution * Develop and integrate FBW control laws, mode/state logic, monitors, protections, actuator limits, and failure-management functions using model-based development methods and MATLAB/Simulink/Stateflow. * Serve as the technical lead for supplier selection and execution for flight-control computers, remote electronics/actuator-control electronics, sensors, and actuation equipment. * Lead supplier requirements reviews, architecture and design reviews, deliverable acceptance, configuration-change evaluation, technical-risk management, and issue closure. * Ensure system performance, determinism, latency, robustness, environmental qualification, maintainability, and integration readiness meet aircraft-level objectives Integration, Verification, Safety and Certification * Define and lead FBW integration and requirements-based system testing across model-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, processor-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, laboratory, aircraft ground-test, and flight-test environments, including pass/fail criteria and failure-injection scenarios. * Develop and maintain Python-based automation for test stimulus generation, execution, data acquisition and analysis, regression testing, results reporting, and toolchain integration. * Support FHA, PSSA, SSA, FTA, FMEA, common-cause analyses, Development Assurance Level allocation, and verification of derived safety requirements. * Support certification planning and evidence, software and airborne electronic hardware SOI readiness, environmental qualification, conformity, and system review packages. Technical Leadership and Program Coordination * Act as the onsite FBW technical focal point for architecture decisions, issue resolution, cross-functional dependencies, supplier coordination, and schedule/risk alignment. * Mentor engineers, facilitate technical trade studies, communicate status and risks to leadership, and support SRR, PDR, CDR, test-readiness, and certification reviews., Fly-by-Wire (FBW), Flight Controls, Vehicle Management System (VMS), Model-Based Development (MBD), MATLAB, Simulink, Stateflow, Control-Law Integration, Flight-Control Computers, Actuation Systems, System Architecture, Systems Engineering, Requirements Development, System Integration, System Testing, Test Automation, Python, MIL, SIL, PIL, HIL, Requirements-Based Verification, Fault Injection, Redundancy Management, Fault Detection and Isolation, Safety-Critical Systems, eVTOL, Powered-Lift, Hybrid-Electric Aircraft, Supplier Technical Management, ARP4754A/B, ARP4761/ARP4761A, DO-178C, DO-331, DO-254, DO-160, FAA Certification, Flight Test, MBSE, ARINC 429, CAN, Ethernet, AFDX, Time-Triggered Ethernet. 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