Job Information
Acron Aviation Senior Associate Electrical Engineer in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Full Time Reg
Grand Rapids, MI, US
Phoenix, AZ, US
About Acron Aviation (Avionics):
Acron Aviation designs, engineers, and manufactures certified avionics systems that support safety‑critical flight operations across commercial and military aviation. Our avionics portfolio includes surveillance, recorders, displays, and related systems developed in regulated environments and deployed on aircraft worldwide. We partner closely with operators and OEMs to deliver reliable, certifiable technology throughout the full product lifecycle—from development and qualification through production and aftermarket support. At Acron Aviation, avionics engineering is rooted in technical rigor, operational discipline, and a customer‑first approach to execution.
About our Surveillance Product Line:
Acron Aviation’s Surveillance organization develops and sustains safety‑critical systems that enable aircraft awareness, collision avoidance, and airspace interoperability. Our surveillance portfolio includes ADS‑B, Mode S transponders, traffic collision avoidance, and integrated surveillance solutions deployed across commercial, military, and rotorcraft platforms. This work is performed in highly regulated environments. It requires deep expertise in systems, hardware, software, and RF across the full lifecycle—from requirements and certification through production and in‑service support. Surveillance engineering at Acron Aviation emphasizes technical rigor, disciplined execution, and close coordination with operators and OEM partners.
Job Description:
As a Senior Associate Electrical Engineer within our Surveillance product line, you will focus on developing TCAS and transponder avionics for commercial aircraft. This responsibility spans concept generation, design, qualification, and lifecycle management. You will interact with multi-disciplinary engineering teams, as well as operations and manufacturing, to create and deliver products to our customers. You will support senior engineers in developing detailed analysis and documentation, running hands-on tests and simulations, and providing design inputs.
Essential Functions:
· Design and support digital, analog, and power circuitry, with supplemental RF principles, in the avionics realm.
· Design, analyze, and test circuits with microprocessors, memory, Ethernet, SPI, I2C, high-speed busses including PCIe, and various avionics interfaces.
· Support production and resolve factory issues affecting assigned products.
· Conduct electrical schematic generation and review. Support for and review of CAD layout (preferred skills with Altium).
· Develop change impact analysis documents and support product management (obsolescence, design for cost, design for manufacturability)
· Utilize electrical analysis tools for power distribution, stress analysis, and other relevant simulations.
· Effectively communicate across multiple technical teams.
· Communicate directly with customers, in person or virtually, to understand their problems and formulate actionable solutions.
· Other duties as assigned.
· Travel up to 10%.
Qualifications:
· Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering and minimum 3 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 2 years of prior related experience.
· Hands-on experience with electrical hardware design, integration, production, and/or test.
· Ability to interpret engineering drawings and schematics for the purpose of isolating issues or implementing functional improvements.
Preferred Additional Skills:
· High-speed Digital Design: Experience with DDR4/DDR5, PCIe, Ethernet, and other high-speed interfaces.
· Signal Integrity / Power Integrity (SI/PI): Simulation, analysis, and mitigation of noise, crosstalk, reflections, and decoupling strategies.
· Reliability & Safety: Component derating, transient protection, and worst-case analysis
· DC-DC Conversion: Design of buck, boost, and flyback converters for high-current digital loads.
· AC-DC Conversion: Design and qualification of PFC (power factor correction), rectifiers, and isolated power stages.
· Python or C++ working knowledge.
· Experience with and an understanding of aerospace systems, especially in the development of integrated hardware/software products
· Awareness of FPGA/firmware development requirements as they impact electrical design
· Excellent people skills, with experience working in multidisciplinary/cross-functional teams
· Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, & presentation)
· Awareness of aerospace specifications such as DO-160, DO-178, and DO-254
· Experience with Design to Cost and Design for Manufacturability
· Experience effectively supporting the production and testing of products in a different geographic location
· Demonstrated ability to handle multiple programs and responsibilities simultaneously
· Ability to operate and identify an appropriate path forward with some oversight
· Pilot License or Part 107 certificate
Acron Aviation is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Acron Aviation is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and to maintaining a workplace free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws.
Acron Aviation maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.
Acron Aviation is an E-Verify Employer.