Lead Avionics Engineer
Company Overview
Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas. These include airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refuelling, special air missions, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation. We own the whole stack: designing, building, and operating turnkey capabilities that give our partners decisive, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.
Our operating model is built around three interlocking pillars. The Support Groups provide a global shared-service – spanning people, finance, platform, operations, legal, and engagement. This frees up our Core Groups, who develop and own mission capabilities end-to-end, to focus entirely on delivery. The Market Groups apply a regional lens, ensuring that our agile and adaptable capabilities remain aligned to the wicked problems that matter most to our partners across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific.
At the heart of our model is a simple but powerful idea: be a true partner with skin in the game. Our partners need effects, not just equipment. By owning the full stack – from the lab to the field – we are able to drive a continuous cycle of innovation that keeps our partners ahead. It's a fast-moving, intellectually demanding environment where talented people are given real responsibility, work on problems that matter, and contribute to an enterprise that is growing quickly and deliberately.
Headquartered in Washington, DC, with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Group Overview
Aerospace Engineering Group (AERO) provides an integrated, end-to-end capability for the rapid modification and fielding of mission-specific aircraft. The Airborne Asset Adaptation (A3) Cell acts as the central command and coordination hub, managing requirements and external interfaces from inception to operational delivery. Specialized technical execution is delivered by the Aircraft Integration Centre (AIC), a Part 145 facility focused on airframe modification, and Aerospace Design (ASD), which provides organic design engineering and FAA-authorized certification. Collectively, these elements bridge the gap between initial requirements and the deployment of flight-certified, mission-ready assets.
Position Summary
In the Aircraft Modifications Lead Avionics Engineer role, you will provide guidance, priorities and assistance to engineers designing and certifying the integration of avionics systems into general aviation, business, transport and military derivative aircraft. This role will support major alterations and Supplemental Type Certificate development managed by both the FAA and the Peregrine ODA within Metrea Aerospace Design.
What You'll Do
- Provide direct supervision of the avionics design team, including setting priorities and expectations, labor tracking and employee performance appraisals
- Coordinate with management and other team leads to determine priorities, identify issues and apply resources in support of organizational goals
- Review project requirements including Statement(s) of Work
- Review and approve interconnect drawings for all affected avionics systems using AutoCad and PLM software
- Review Installation data packages, including systems and electrical fabrication, assembly and installation drawings, master data lists, drawings and reports, for compliance with project requirements
- Apply electrical engineering standards to drawing development by providing technical reviews, team guidance and enforcement of provided CAD templates, formats and standards
- Demonstrate strong attention to detail
- Multi-task and maintain a positive attitude in a fast paced, changing environment
What You Bring
- Four+ year engineering degree preferred
- 8-15 years working experience in designing/engineering and installation of avionics systems upgrades, ideally in a special missions modification environment
- 2-5 years of engineering leadership experience preferred
- Good written and oral communication skills
- USA Passport, available for domestic & international travel (occasional)
Additional Eligibility Qualifications
- Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, and 2 years (required) of relevant design and installation of avionics systems
- Computer Skills: AutoCAD, Microsoft Office Suite
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical plan options
- HSA/FSA accounts
- Dental and vision coverage
- 6% employer 401(k) match
- Fully paid parental leave for all new parents
- Generous PTO
- Life and disability insurance
- Long-term and Short-term disability coverage
- AD&D Coverage
- Pet Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Subsidized gym membership / plans through Wellhub
Work Authorization / Security Clearance
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. US citizenship is required. Security clearance not required. Candidates will be subject to a background investigation in accordance with federal requirements.
AAP/EEO Statement
This Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
Position Type and Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs. Exempt Employees must have the ability to be on-call and available, as business needs require.
Work Environment
This job operates in an office setting.
Travel
Less than 20%.
Our Firmware
At Metrea, our single core value is Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes are Entrepreneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over-Deliver. These form what we call our Teammate Firmware. Just like technical firmware connects software and hardware, our Firmware is the constant interface between our mission and our people. It defines how we show up, how we work together, and how we solve complex problems.
Our team Firmware creates a web-like, hyper-collaborative, dynamically hierarchical way of working that helps us adapt quickly, communicate openly, and distribute decision-making to where expertise actually lives. It enables groups to self-organize around hard problems, shift fluidly as priorities evolve, and operate with the trust, curiosity, and discipline required in a complex mission space. This foundation allows us to deliver elegant, effective solutions and uphold our purpose: protecting our precious inheritance.