Lead Aircraft Systems Integration Engineer in Firebaugh

Location: Eagle Field Airport, Firebaugh, CA (Bay Area / Palo Alto candidates ; candidates willing to relocate are welcome) Schedule: Full-time, direct hire; on-site or hybrid, with hands-on development work and visits to Eagle Field

About the Opportunity

Our client, a California-based aerospace startup, is developing a hybrid-electric drive-and-fly vehicle and is hiring a Lead Aircraft Systems Integration Engineer to own how the whole vehicle works as one system.

As part of the engineering organization under the CTO, you’ll own the aircraft-level functional architecture and the interfaces between propulsion, batteries, avionics and other systems, and you’ll define how the vehicle moves between drive, flight and conversion modes. It’s a hands-on lead role for a systems engineer who has integrated multiple interacting subsystems and troubleshot real prototypes.

What You’ll Do

• Own the architecture: Own the aircraft-level functional architecture and cross-system interfaces.
• Define the modes: Define drive, flight and conversion modes, and manage mode transitions and fault behaviors.
• Control the interfaces: Manage interfaces across propulsion, batteries, avionics and related aircraft systems.
• Resolve competing needs: Balance competing subsystem requirements and lead integration.
• Troubleshoot prototypes: Lead troubleshooting of integration failures on engineering prototypes.
• Keep the records: Maintain requirements traceability and configuration records.
• Manage readiness and safety: Coordinate technical readiness and safety-related system constraints with specialists.

• Education: Bachelor’s in aerospace, electrical, mechanical or systems engineering, or equivalent practical expertise.
• Systems experience: 8+ years of aircraft or complex-vehicle systems engineering.
• Technical leadership: Leadership on systems engineering or integration programs.
• Subsystem integration: Aircraft subsystem integration across multiple interacting systems, including resolving subsystem issues and troubleshooting engineering prototypes.
• Functional architecture: Aircraft-level functional architecture ownership or equivalent systems decomposition experience.
• Interface management: Cross-system interface management across propulsion, batteries, avionics and related aircraft systems.
• Modes and faults: Defining mode transitions, fault behaviors and safety-related system constraints.
• Traceability: Maintaining requirements traceability and configuration records.
• Hands-on integration: Development and integration experience in a hardware or prototype test environment.
• Work authorization and location: U.S. work authorization without visa sponsorship, and on-site or hybrid work at Eagle Field Airport.

Nice to Have

• Relevant aircraft: Hybrid-electric, eVTOL or rotorcraft systems experience.
• MBSE: Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) or SysML experience.
• Tools: MATLAB/Simulink.
• AI and automation: Use of AI tools or automation (not mandatory).

Total Aviation Staffing connects aviation and aerospace professionals with top opportunities across business and charter aviation, commercial aviation, MRO, aerospace and defense, and aviation technology. When you apply through us, you get:

• A specialist in your corner: Guidance from recruiters who focus only on aviation and aerospace.
• More than one door: Priority access to openings that may not be publicly advertised, even if this role isn’t the perfect fit.
• Top employers: Introductions to leading companies in aviation and aerospace., We’ll help take your career forward by connecting you with the top aerospace and aviation companies across the U.S.

Whether you strive to be an a&p mechanic, an aircraft technician, a flight attendant, or work in aviation customer service, Total Aviation Staffing can enhance your open sky aviation careers so you can achieve your goals.

Not only will we help you extend your job search and find the right role for you, but we can help build your resume, help you apply to aviation job openings, and get you closer to landing your dream full-time job.

Company DescriptionWe’ll help take your career forward by connecting you with the top aerospace and aviation companies across the U.S.\r\n\r\nWhether you strive to be an a&p mechanic, an aircraft technician, a flight attendant, or work in aviation customer service, Total Aviation Staffing can enhance your open sky aviation careers so you can achieve your goals.\r\n\r\nNot only will we help you extend your job search and find the right role for you, but we can help build your resume, help you apply to aviation job openings, and get you closer to landing your dream full-time job.