How To Become An Avionics Systems Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is an avionics systems engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Brian Talbot

These people work in the aviation industry and in the aerospace engineering sector. Their job is to design and develop spacecraft and aircraft instruments. They are also tasked with conducting research that has to do with the safety of the aviation industry, the aircraft in particular.

Some of the areas that have been researched greatly are electronic navigation systems,and landing gear. This job requires high academic qualifications to qualify you. You need at least a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, aero mechanics, or equivalent.

But to increase your chances, you need at least a master's degree in the above-mentioned courses. There are still some skills you need to have to qualify for this job, some of them include attention to small detail, patience, strong analytical skills, good knowledge of systems engineering software tools, and organization skills.

As for the salary structure, it depends on the size of the organization, the country you work in, and your experience on the job. In the United States, an average avionics systems engineer earns between $89,942, $82,262, and $108,706 per annum.

What general advice would you give to an avionics systems engineer?

Brian Talbot

Senior Director, AIAA

Entering the aerospace workforce now is different in the COVID environment. It's important to find more avenues to get connected and expand your knowledge beyond the classroom. AIAA has hosted virtual recruiting events for our student members with companies like SpaceX, Ball Aerospace, and Lockheed Martin. We've created an online-based mentor-mentee matching program. We've also created new online educational opportunities that can differentiate candidates with both technical and soft skills. There are many opportunities out there, so look for new ways that you can find connections at the companies whose missions excite you. It's important for graduates to be proactive and take advantage of options available. It's through these channels that you can actively shape your career journey, even during challenging times.

ScoreAvionics Systems EngineerUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $99,014

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.4

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.30%

Asian 11.05%

Black or African American 4.14%

Hispanic or Latino 10.79%

Unknown 4.42%

White 69.30%

Gender

female 8.14%

male 91.86%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an avionics systems engineer

Explore avionics systems engineer education requirements

Most common avionics systems engineer degrees

Bachelor's

69.6 %

Master's

17.7 %

Associate

9.5 %

Start to develop specific avionics systems engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Avionics Systems	14.51%
FAA	8.67%
System Integration	8.18%
DOD	7.57%
C++	6.63%

Complete relevant avionics systems engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New avionics systems engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an avionics systems engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real avionics systems engineer resumes.

Research avionics systems engineer duties and responsibilities

Develop Perl scripts to automate object model and functional mapping into the application metadata and database.
Serve as database liaison between development and DBA staff for DoD ABIS system.
Conduct IPT and interfaces with other technical groups to solve complex technical issues.
Design new company FAA approve documentation to catalog the various work perform on aircraft.

Get avionics systems engineer experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become an avionics systems engineer. The most common roles before becoming an avionics systems engineer include systems engineer, senior systems engineer team lead and electrical engineer.

Apply for avionics systems engineer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an avionics systems engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams