Avionics and Electrical Engineer

Job Title: Avionics and Electrical Engineer
Company: Grid.aero
Location: Onsite 4 days/week [San Leandro, CA]

About Grid.aero

Grid.aero is building the next generation of autonomous aviation systems for defense and commercial applications. Led by experienced aerospace and technology operators and backed by leading venture investors, we solve hard operational problems at the intersection of autonomy, resilient logistics, and scalable air mobility. We move quickly, operate with urgency, and build systems designed for real-world deployment where small teams own meaningful problems end-to-end.

Read this, we mean it → Above all, we look for exceptional builders with deep internal drive, massive throughput, hopeless optimism, and a relentless growth mindset. The people who thrive at Grid operate with urgency, learn quickly, adapt fast, and are energized by hard problems with no obvious answers. We value individuals who continuously push themselves and the team around them to improve.

This is an opportunity to work on products with national and global impact alongside a collaborative team that values technical excellence, execution, and mission focus.

Role Overview:

We are seeking a highly capable and motivated Avionics and Electrical Engineer to own the development of avionics and electrical systems for our family of autonomous cargo aircraft. This is a high-ownership role suited for an engineer who can define the system architecture, perform the required design and analysis, support production and procurement, and lead system verification and validation efforts. You will work closely with a team of systems, hardware, and software engineers to ensure a safe, certifiable, and scalable electrical system.

As an early hire, you will help establish technical standards, processes, and best practices that will scale with the company. You'll have full visibility into our mission, direct access to leadership, and the autonomy to drive impactful engineering decisions. If you're excited about building something world-changing and shaping an early-stage aerospace company, this role is for you.

What You'll Do:

• Scope: You will own the aircraft avionics and electrical system architecture and design the systems for electrical power and signal generation, storage, distribution, and protection, including busses, switches, grounding/bonding, wire harnesses and routings, circuit protection, and electrical integration of propulsion, avionics, flight controls, payload, and other flight-critical systems.
• Collaborate: You will work closely with systems, mechanical, structures, avionics, propulsion, software, manufacturing, and test engineers to define interfaces, resolve multidisciplinary integration challenges, and deliver simple and cohesive designs.
• Design: You will develop practical, reliable, and certifiable avionics and electrical systems designs using first-principles and analytical methods, including electrical load analysis, thermal analysis, fault analysis, system safety analysis, with consideration EMI/EMC.
• Build: You will specify, source, procure, and support fabrication, installation, and integration of avionics and electrical components on test assets and aircraft.
• Test: You will define, execute, troubleshoot, and document electrical ground tests (hardware-in-loop simulation, power-on tests, fault-injection tests, etc.), and support flight test activities to validate system performance and safety.
• Document and Communicate: You will create and maintain requirements, system architecture diagrams, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, harness drawings, ICDs, technical reports, and present designs and trade studies at internal design reviews.
• Support: You will support avionics and electrical systems through production and into flight test to ensure the aircraft remains operationally available and continuously provides valuable engineering data.
• Improve: You will establish, maintain, and evolve avionics and electrical engineering standards, processes, and best practices across the full product lifecycle.

Key Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering (Master's degree a plus), or a related field 
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace electrical engineering, preferably with comprehensive exposure to designing, building, testing, certifying, and/or operating aircraft avionics and electrical systems (or relatable experience) 
• Familiarity with designing, building, and testing with hardware-in-loop simulators.
• Familiarity with ECAD and/or PLM tools and proficiency with harness design (e.g., CATIA Electrical, etc.). 
• Bachelor's degree level of understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals including signal and power systems, circuit protection, EMI/EMC, grounding/bonding, and reliability
• Familiarity with materials, process, hardware, and design standards commonly employed by reliable aerospace avionics and electrical systems
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a collaborative, fast-paced environment
• Ability to occasionally travel to supplier sites, manufacturing facilities, or test locations

Compensation: $140k - $180k / 0.1 - 0.3% Equity

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Grid.aero is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Legal Notice:

Grid.aero is committed to complying with U.S. export control laws. Due to the nature of our work, candidates must be U.S. persons (U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).