Integration & Test Engineer - Effector Systems

Integration & Test Engineer CHAOS Industries builds advanced sensing and detection systems for warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams. Their products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN), a proprietary architecture that enables distributed, real-time threat detection across complex and contested environments. Founded in 2022 and backed by $1 billion in funding from 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners, CHAOS operates at the intersection of defense and deep tech. The mission is direct: give operators time to detect, decide, and act before threats evolve. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, and London. CHAOS is looking for an Integration & Test Engineer to accelerate the development, integration, verification, and validation of effector systems for air defense applications. This is a highly hands-on role working directly with hardware, firmware, and software across the full stack, from embedded subsystems to complete fielded systems. You will assemble, configure, and test real hardware, write the scripts that validate it, troubleshoot issues across domains, and support testing in the field. The ideal candidate enjoys getting their hands dirty, learns by doing, and has direct experience integrating drone or UAS platforms. This is not a purely procedural test role; you will contribute to how the team builds and refines its I&T processes from the ground up. What You'll Do Assemble, configure, and integrate effector hardware, controller electronics, firmware, and software into functioning systems Plan, develop, and execute integration and test procedures at the component, subsystem, and system levels Develop and maintain automated and manual test scripts, fixtures, and test environments Troubleshoot integration and test issues spanning hardware, firmware, and embedded software Support field integration, on-site testing, and customer demonstrations Create and maintain integration and test documentation Contribute to the development and refinement of I&T processes, procedures, and best practices Support adjacent systems engineering or software integration tasks as program needs evolve You Should Have 3-5 years of experience in integration and test engineering, embedded systems, or a closely related discipline Strong hands-on prototype hardware skills including wiring, soldering, and mechanical assembly Experience setting up and configuring embedded subsystems such as GPS receivers, telemetry radios, and flight controllers Proficiency in Python and/or C/C++ for test automation, calibration, and data analysis scripting Experience developing and executing test procedures at the component, subsystem, and system levels Familiarity with communication protocols common in drone and embedded systems including MAVLink, CAN, UART, SPI, and I2C Solid understanding of drone system architecture including propulsion, servos, datalinks, navigation, and control loops Experience with Git and CI/CD pipelines for automated testing Nice to Have Direct experience with drones, UAS platforms, or similar unmanned effector systems Familiarity with flight controller software such as PX4 or ArduPilot and associated ground control tools like QGroundControl or Mission Planner Experience with hardware-in-the-loop or software-in-the-loop simulation environments Knowledge of RF systems, GPS signal simulation, or sensor fusion techniques Familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink for control system modeling or flight dynamics Exposure to field test operations and transitioning systems from bench to flight testing Experience with environmental and EMC qualification testing per MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and MIL-STD-464 FAA Part 107 certification or equivalent UAV operational credentials Compensation and Benefits: Base Salary: $130,000 - $160,000, depending on experience Rethink Recruit