Lead Avionics Engineer

Department: Engineering

Location: Long Beach CA

Employment Type: FullTime

About Odys

Our mission at Odys is simple - we build safe, sustainable aircraft to cut travel time in half on the world's busiest corridors. Our flagship aircraft Alta enables travelers to skip the big-airport hassle by using city helipads and local airports to connect cities less than 1,000 miles apart (approx 40% of flights). And on average cut CO2 by 76% on tens of billions of flight miles globally.

To get there, we start with our UAV called Laila for commercial logistics, medical transport, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and defense missions. We’re deploying aircraft with launch partners (Fiji Airways, Honeywell, Aramex, US Navy) beginning in late 2025 and already have firm orders for aircraft under contract.

We’re a team of expert engineers from deep tech and aerospace that focus on fast iterations loops (completed transition flight faster than our peers) combined with mastery of the aircraft certification process. Previously, our team developed custom drones, brought multiple automotive platforms into production, and electrified transportation vehicles that magnetically levitate, that roll, that fly. Together, we’ve been learning, developing, building, testing, and preparing for this challenge our entire lives.

Are you passionate about shaping certifiable flight control architectures and integrating the systems that bring advanced unmanned aircraft to life? Do you thrive at the intersection of dynamic modeling, avionics hardware, and real-time software? If so, we invite you to join us as Lead Engineer – FbW & Avionics.

In this role, you will lead the definition and implementation of our Fly-by-Wire system architecture and take technical ownership of key avionics subsystems—including the Ground Control Station (GCS), communications, actuation, payload interfaces, and onboard automation technologies such as sensing, detection, and vision-based navigation.

This is a senior engineering role requiring deep systems knowledge and strong coordination skills. You will work across teams—GNC, software, systems engineering, propulsion, and safety—and serve as the primary interface for key avionics suppliers. Your leadership will directly impact flight control integrity, platform integration, and our roadmap toward EASA SAIL 4.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement the Fly-by-Wire (FbW) system, including redundancy management, control allocation, and fail-operational strategies

• Oversee integration of GCS, communications, actuation systems, payloads, and automation subsystems, with emphasis on sensing, detection, and vision-based navigation

• Lead system-level avionics requirements, interface design, and documentation (ICDs) in collaboration with GNC and software teams

• Drive hardware/software integration, including SIL/HIL testing and flight test preparation

• Define and support FDIR (Fault Detection, Isolation & Recovery) strategies for flight-critical functions

• Coordinate with suppliers of flight control computers, smart actuators, and airborne electronics for specification, testing, and integration

Required Qualifications

• Degree in aerospace, electrical, systems, or a related engineering field

• 7+ years of experience in flight-critical system design, Fly-by-Wire architectures, or avionics integration, with at least 2–3 years in a technical leadership or cross-functional coordination role

• Proven ability to define and deliver system architectures across hardware and software domains

• Familiarity with ARP4754B, DO-178C, and DO-254 or similar development assurance standards

• Experience working with or managing avionics suppliers

• Strong communication, collaboration, and systems thinking skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in smart actuation, networked FCCs, or modular avionics architectures

• Experience with vision-based navigation, radar altimetry, or autonomous guidance

• Familiarity with SORA/SAIL frameworks and development assurance processes

• Proficiency in model-based systems tools (e.g., Flow Engineering, Simulink, System Composer, Capella)

• Programming/scripting knowledge (e.g., Python, C/C++) for prototyping or integration tasks