Senior System Engineer

AIR is developing a unique electric aircraft (eVTOL) for the private, logistics, and defense markets. With over 3,000 pre-orders for the AIR ONE and active fulfillment of defense and logistics programs, AIR is rapidly expanding its engineering, production, and flight testing operations.

Our multidisciplinary team is preparing for mass production while extending both manned and unmanned flight operations in the United States. We collaborate with leading aerospace and automotive partners worldwide to shape the future of advanced air mobility.

Joining AIR means becoming part of an innovative, fast-growing company where talented professionals work together to build the next generation of electric aircraft.

About the Role

AIR is seeking a Senior System Engineer to lead aircraft-level system engineering activities across the complete development lifecycle of unmanned and autonomous aircraft.

The role requires a broad technical perspective, strong problem-solving capabilities, and a hands-on approach to system integration and debugging. The engineer will work closely with all engineering disciplines, including mechanical, hardware, software, avionics, flight science, power train and flight-test teams.

This position is suited to an experienced system engineer who can translate operational and business needs into clear system requirements, define aircraft-level architecture, manage interfaces, and drive complex technical issues through integration, verification, and flight testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead aircraft-level system engineering activities from concept definition through development, integration, verification, flight testing, and operational support.
• Define and maintain aircraft-level requirements, system architecture, interfaces, and verification methods.
• Translate operational and product needs and high-level objectives into clear, testable technical requirements.
• Coordinate technical activities across multiple engineering teams.
• Lead system verification and validation including integration activities, ground and flight-test campaigns.
• Investigate and resolve complex multidisciplinary technical issues using structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis.
• Perform hands-on debugging of integrated aircraft systems, including hardware, software and avionics.
• Manage system interfaces and ensure compatibility between aircraft subsystems.
• Support system safety, reliability, risk assessment, and requirements traceability activities.
• Participate in design reviews, readiness reviews, failure investigations, and technical decision-making.
• Work with suppliers and external partners on system requirements, interfaces, integration, and qualification.
• Support compliance and certification activities throughout the development lifecycle.
• Identify technical risks, system gaps, and integration challenges, and drive them to closure.
• Maintain clear and structured system engineering documentation.

Required Qualifications

• B.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• At least five years of relevant experience in system engineering, aircraft development, unmanned systems, autonomous systems, or other complex multidisciplinary products.
• Experience working across the complete product development lifecycle.
• Hands-on experience with system integration, troubleshooting, and debugging.
• Ability to analyze complex multidisciplinary problems and lead effective technical resolution.
• Experience defining system requirements, architectures, interfaces, and verification activities.
• Strong understanding of interactions between hardware, software, mechanical systems, avionics, sensors and control systems.
• Ability to work effectively with multiple engineering teams and technical disciplines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, take technical ownership, and operate effectively in a fast-paced development environment.

Advantages

• Experience with model-based systems engineering, SysML, or MBSE tools and methodologies.
• M Sc. in Systems Engineering.
• Practical experience with aviation development and certification standards, including ARP4754A, ARP4761, DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160, ASTM standards, or equivalent.
• Experience with safety-critical or mission-critical systems.
• Familiarity with requirements-management, configuration-management, simulation, or data-analysis tools.
• Experience working with aviation authorities, certification organizations, or aerospace suppliers.

Personal Attributes

• Practical and hands-on engineering mindset.
• Strong technical curiosity and problem-solving ability.
• Systems-level thinking with attention to detail.
• Ability to understand both high-level aircraft objectives and detailed subsystem behavior.
• Strong ownership and accountability.
• Ability to make informed technical decisions under uncertainty.
• Effective collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.