How to hire an avionics systems engineer

How to hire an avionics systems engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step avionics systems engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an avionics systems engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new avionics systems engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The avionics systems engineer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An avionics systems engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, avionics systems engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of avionics systems engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Avionics Systems Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Avionics Systems Engineer	Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design.	$36-61
   Stress Analyst	A stress analyst is a type of aerospace engineer; they design, construct, and test aircraft. They may also work on missiles or spacecraft... Show more	$30-54
   Engineering Scientist	An engineering scientist is responsible for designing new technological systems through the evaluation of scientific methods and innovative solutions. Engineering scientists analyze technical parts and components, researching the current engineering trends to meet public demands and interests... Show more	$31-59

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Avionics Systems
   • FAA
   • System Integration
   • DOD
   • C++
   • Engineering Support
   • Software Development
   • Trade Studies
   • Do-254
   • Verification Testing
   • Configuration Management
   • Rotary Wing Aircraft
   • Test Procedures
   • RF

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Prepare and deliver antenna viewing angle reports, solar and lunar eclipse reports, and sensor intrusion predictions.
   • Train network engineers on proper setup and operation of enterprise and remote server in support of company DNS and DHCP services.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your avionics systems engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An avionics systems engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, avionics systems engineers' average salary in louisiana is 37% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level avionics systems engineers earn 40% less than senior-level avionics systems engineers.
   • Certifications. An avionics systems engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an avionics systems engineer's salary.

   Average avionics systems engineer salary

   $99,014yearly

   $47.60 hourly rate

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   Entry-level avionics systems engineer salary

   $76,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing an avionics systems engineer job description

   An avionics systems engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an avionics systems engineer job description:

   Avionics systems engineer job description example

   ABL Space Systems was founded in 2017 by veterans of SpaceX and Morgan Stanley to develop low-cost launch vehicles for the small satellite industry. More importantly, we're building a launch system we are truly proud of - no gimmicks or over-design, just reliable, rapidly deployable launches. We're an ambitious team with big goals and, together, we're determined to prove that reaching space can be simple, efficient, and routine.
   When launch day arrives, we want you by our side
   
   ABL's Avionics Systems Engineers bridge the gap between low-level electronics assemblies and the broader vehicle from instrumentation to valves, transmitters, and peripherals, to guarantee expected operation from takeoff to orbit.
   
   Avionics Systems Engineers know the ins-and-outs of a wide swathe of components from valves to radio transmitters, batteries, cameras, and transducers - and the interdependencies separating proper operation from failure.
   Responsibilities Gather, define, and document requirements to meet existing and anticipated needs across the launch vehicle Perform end-to-end system analyses such as power-budgets, RF link budgets, and network bandwidth assessments Interact with customers to determine and accommodate payload electrical requirements across the vehicle and ground systems Ensure proper operation of all components in a system with respect to power, signal integrity, and overall function across harnessing and vehicle constraints Develop, analyze and review data to validate and verify the avionics system meets specifications and design requirements Perform avionics systems integration, checkout and troubleshooting of anomalies
   Near Term ResponsibilitiesWork across departments (propulsion, components, structures, hardware development) to provision for successful operation of all vehicle needs Specify and evaluate components for use in addressing existing system needs or improving system functionality Define and maintain the interface requirements to coordinate across engineering teams Identify and address system-level requirements (power requirements, cabling for high speed signaling, grounding, channel accommodations, interface compatibility, etc) Work with a variety of vendors to understand and validate COTS component operation and proper use within broader systems Work with vendors to define system requirements and possible solutions Support critical controller (e.g. Thrust Vector Control Actuators, Throttle Valves) system engineering, integration, and test Power systems, budgeting and battery sizing RF systems, link budgeting and receive/transmit equipment selection Redundancy and contingency management, capabilities for "Failure Detection Isolation and Recovery" (FDIR) Support integration of final vehicle assemblies, including end-to-end avionics system builds and checkouts
   Basic QualificationsB.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science (CS), Computer Engineering (CE), Electrical Engineering (EE), or similar from an accredited university 2+ years experience in the development of aircraft, missile, spacecraft or similar electronic/avionic systems
   Preferred Skills and ExperienceDemonstrated ability utilizing CAD design software (e.g. NX, CATIA, CREO/PRO-E) Experience with PCB design software (preferably Altium Designer) to use for reference purposes Proficiency with a wide variety of components (solenoid valves, industrial instrumentation, network devices, RF systems, RTDs, hall-effect sensors, etc) Experience with system-level analyses (such as power, link, and data budgets) Experience with harness design software (Zuken E3 or similar) Familiarity with:Power SystemsRF Telemetry SystemsMechanical routing, harness routing Day of launch or on-orbit systems testing support, including vehicle power and telemetry systems Launch service payload accommodations and ground systems Demonstrated leadership of or within a small project team either in current role or during project based team in school
   What We Look For1. Critical thinking: ABL engineers understand the "why" behind all design decisions, operational events and test outcomes. 2. Ability to deal with ambiguity: there is no roadmap and ABL engineers must be comfortable defining their own pathway to an objective. 3. End-to-end ownership: projects are delivered fully complete and ready for flight; there is no one to pick up the slack of partially complete work.
   
   ITAR Requirement
   This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, permanent residents, asylees, and refugees) is a required qualification for this position.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer
   We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, genetics, or citizenship status (when otherwise legally authorized to work and access export-controlled data) and will not be discriminated against on the basis of such characteristics or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We encourage applicants of all ages.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right avionics systems engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with avionics systems engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit avionics systems engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your avionics systems engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit avionics systems engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit avionics systems engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new avionics systems engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect avionics systems engineer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new avionics systems engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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