Avionics Systems Engineering Manager in Farnborough

Avionics Systems Engineering Manager

Location: Farnborough, United Kingdom

Welcome to AALTO, a global leader in Stratospace. AALTO manufactures and operates the solar‑powered, stratospheric platform Zephyr, delivering continuous flight for months at stratospheric altitudes.

Zephyr’s platform enables high‑altitude, long‑endurance (HAPS/UAV) services including direct‑to‑device connectivity and high‑resolution Earth observation, monitored from above 60,000 ft (20 km). AALTO operates in the operational layer between most air traffic and low‑Earth orbit, providing services to commercial and government partners.

Job Purpose

This Avionics Systems Engineering Manager supports the development and integration of avionics systems for AALTO’s HAPS/UAV platform, coordinating systems engineering activities across communications, navigation, surveillance, SATCOM, payloads, and ground systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a multidisciplinary avionics systems engineering team.
• Support development and maintenance of avionics architecture under guidance from senior engineering leadership.
• Manage avionics requirements: elicitation, traceability, verification, validation, and configuration control.
• Lead system design and integration readiness reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR).
• Coordinate with suppliers to support specifications, qualification evidence, and integration readiness.
• Ensure compliance with ARP4754, ARP4761, DO‑178, DO‑254, and applicable UAV/HAPS regulations.
• Oversee SATCOM and data‑link integration (e.g., Iridium, Inmarsat, Viasat, Starlink).
• Promote model‑based systems engineering and alignment of models/simulations with verification plans.
• Produce technical documentation and present status updates to stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Systems, Aerospace, Electronics, or related engineering discipline.
• Proven avionics systems engineering experience, ideally in HAPS/UAV or aerospace programmes.
• Significant experience leading avionics systems engineering teams.
• Solid foundation in avionics architecture, requirements ownership, and system integration.
• Proficiency with requirement management tools (like DOORS, Jama or Jira), and system‑level verification planning.
• Extensive experience with avionics and ground‑system integration, testing, and supplier management.
• Deep knowledge of ARP4754, ARP4761, DO‑178, DO‑254, and UAV/HAPS regulatory frameworks is very desirable.
• Also desirable: SATCOM integration experience, MBSE tools (e.g., Simulink), UAV certification liaison, CVE eligibility.

At AALTO, we offer a flexible work environment, a competitive bonus scheme, a pension plan, and a culture that values professional growth and personal well‑being.

AALTO HAPS Ltd. is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.