Avionics Hardware Engineer

About Airbound

Our mission is to make a world where everyone has access to delivery. Where goods move as freely as information moves today.

This is possible. Today the cost of moving on a scooter is ₹2/km. That's the cost of moving a 150kg mass from point A to B. We're bringing that mass down to less than 5kgs, concurrently bringing the cost down to 10 paise/km. This is how we make deliveries a reality. This is how we create a world where we're doing billions of deliveries per day.

The tech is not there. The current cost of drone delivery is ₹100/km. We need to completely redefine the way things are done here. We're building the world's most efficient aircraft from the ground-up, and scaling that up to beyond anything the aerospace sector has ever seen. This cannot be an iterative process. We have to tear down all conventions and build everything up from scratch.

To do this, we need nothing less than the best engineers. The ones who care about building something fundamentally different, who are deeply curious about understanding the fundamentals of everything they're working on, who are dreamers that believe in the impossible.

About Flight Systems

The hardware on the drone is only half of what keeps it up in the air. The rest is the software both on the craft and on our ground station. Our unique dual motor thrust vectored tailsitter with blended wing body design has to fly in almost all weather-including heavy winds and light rains autonomously. We're targeting 1000s of flights per day across all locations, requiring us to rethink everything from firmware, controls, state estimation to even ground control and fleet management software. We've achieved an industry-leading payload-to-weight ratio of ~2kg drone for 1kg payload and we're pushing this even further. Every gram matters when you're revolutionizing logistics. This is where cutting-edge aerospace engineering meets software scalability meets real-world impact. If you get excited about solving problems that span multiple disciplines that don't have textbook solutions, this is your playground.

About the Role

In this critical, hands-on engineering role, you will architect and deliver the complete avionics hardware stack that powers our revolutionary aircraft. You will own the entire hardware lifecycle from system architecture and EMI/EMC-compliant PCB design to vendor management and high-volume manufacturing with EMS partners, ensuring every board meets the rigorous demands of autonomous flight operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Avionics System Architecture: Define and evolve the complete avionics architecture for our dual-motor thrust-vectored tailsitter

• Power Electronics Design: Design robust power management and distribution systems including DC-DC converters, battery management, motor controllers, and protection circuits

• RF & Communication Systems: Develop RF subsystems for telemetry, command & control, and positioning. Ensure reliable long-range communication in complex RF environments while maintaining compliance with regulatory standards

• EMI/EMC Compliant PCB Design: Create production-ready PCBs with rigorous EMI/EMC design practices including proper grounding, shielding, trace routing, and component placement

• Manufacturing & Vendor Management: Lead hardware productization from prototype to high-volume manufacturing

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborate closely with firmware, flight controls, and mechanical teams to ensure seamless hardware-software integration. Drive technical decisions across teams, mentor junior engineers, and establish hardware development processes and best practices

Qualifications

Must-Have

• 5+ years in hardware/avionics engineering with a proven track record in complex embedded systems, preferably in aerospace, robotics, automotive, or high-reliability applications. Demonstrated experience scaling custom hardware from prototype to volume production (1000+ units)

• PCB Design & Development: Expert-level proficiency in schematic capture and PCB layout using tools like Altium Designer, KiCAD, or Cadence Allegro. Strong understanding of high-speed digital design, mixed-signal layouts, multi-layer stackup design, and design for manufacturing (DFM) principles

• Power Electronics Expertise:

  • Hands-on experience designing switch-mode power supplies, linear regulators, battery management systems, and motor control circuits

  • Understanding of magnetics design, thermal management, and efficiency optimization

  • Proficiency with power simulation tools (LTspice, PLECS, or similar)

• Embedded Systems & Integration:

  • Experience interfacing with microcontrollers and embedded Linux systems via I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, USB, and Ethernet

  • Knowledge of sensor integration (IMUs, GPS, barometers, cameras) and actuation systems

  • Familiarity with embedded firmware development for hardware bring-up and validation

• EMI/EMC & Compliance:

  • Practical knowledge of EMI/EMC design principles and testing methodologies

  • Experience with relevant standards: MIL-STD-461, IEC 61000 series, FCC Part 15, DO-160

  • Understanding of shielding, filtering, grounding, and RF containment techniques

• RF Systems (Basic to Intermediate):

  • Experience with RF communication systems (LoRa, LTE, 2.4/5.8 GHz ISM bands, GPS/GNSS)

  • Understanding of antenna theory, impedance matching, and S-parameters

  • Proficiency with RF measurement equipment (VNA, spectrum analyzer, signal generator)

• Manufacturing & Production:

  • Proven experience managing EMS vendors and contract manufacturers

  • Strong knowledge of PCB fabrication processes, assembly techniques (SMT, through-hole, conformal coating), and quality control

  • Experience with design for test (DFT), bring-up procedures, and production test automation

  • Understanding of supply chain management, component sourcing, and cost optimization

• Engineering Fundamentals:

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with hands-on debugging expertise

  • Proficiency with lab equipment: oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, power analyzers, thermal cameras

  • Mastery of Git workflows for hardware version control and collaborative development

  • Excellent documentation skills and ability to communicate complex technical concepts across teams

Good to Have

• Experience with FPGA/CPLD design for high-speed interfaces or custom signal processing

• Knowledge of DO-254 processes for airborne electronic hardware certification

• Familiarity with environmental testing standards (vibration, shock, thermal cycling, altitude, humidity) and qualification processes for aerospace applications

• Experience with motor controller design and field-oriented control (FOC) implementations

• Hands-on experience with EMI/EMC testing in certified labs and driving design changes based on test results

• Background in wireless charging, inductive power transfer, or high-power density converters

• Experience with safety-critical systems design and failure mode analysis (FMEA, DFMEA)

Work location: Hoskote, Bangalore (Headquarters) #LI-AR1

What We Offer

• Comprehensive health insurance to keep you and your loved ones covered

• Relocation assistance and a daily travel stipend to ease your commute

• Advanced salary credit to support you when you need it

"A driven, passionate team where you'll have room to grow and thrive - this is more than just a job, it's a rare opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up"

Work Schedule:

• In-office role, working alternate Saturdays.

Ready to take off?

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