🔷 Duluth, GA (Onsite) | Aerospace & Avionics

🔷 9/80 Schedule Available – Every Other Friday Off

At Universal Avionics, we develop advanced avionics, enhanced vision systems, and intelligent cockpit technologies that improve aviation safety and situational awareness worldwide. For over 40 years, Universal Avionics has been a trusted innovator in aerospace technology, supporting commercial airlines, business aviation, cargo operations, and special mission aircraft around the globe.

We are seeking an experienced FPGA / PLD Development Manager to lead our PLD Development team within the Hardware Engineering organization. This role combines deep technical leadership with people leadership, driving the architecture, development, verification, and certification of complex avionics firmware solutions in compliance with DO-254 standards.

What You’ll Do

As the FPGA / PLD Development Manager, you will lead and guide a team responsible for the full PLD development lifecycle for avionics products. Responsibilities include:

• Leading the architecture, implementation, verification, and certification of FPGA/PLD solutions for avionics systems
• Managing technical execution across requirements, RTL design, low-level verification, hardware integration, and problem resolution
• Driving compliance with DO-254 processes, airworthiness requirements, and engineering quality standards
• Collaborating cross-functionally with Systems, Hardware, Software, Verification, and Certification teams
• Supporting proposal and capture activities, including technical concepts, cost estimates, staffing plans, and schedules
• Developing team capability through mentoring, coaching, technical leadership, and continuous improvement
• Managing department priorities, staffing plans, execution quality, and engineering performance
• Helping build next-generation avionics technologies that directly impact flight safety and operational effectiveness

Why Engineers Love Working Here:

• Meaningful Technology.
• Work on advanced avionics systems used in mission-critical flight operations across commercial, business, and special mission aircraft platforms.
• Complex Engineering Challenges.
• Lead highly technical FPGA and PLD development efforts spanning architecture, RTL design, verification, certification, integration, and system-level problem solving.
• Leadership with Technical Depth.
• This role is ideal for a leader who enjoys mentoring engineers while remaining closely connected to technical execution and engineering excellence.
• Innovation with Stability.
• Engineering Culture.
• We value curiosity, accountability, collaboration, and engineers who take ownership of solving difficult technical problems.
• Modern Collaborative Environment- our engineers work onsite in a modern facility designed to support technical innovation, cross-functional collaboration, hands-on integration, and focused engineering work.

How Is Success Measured:

We believe senior engineering leaders perform best when expectations are clear and ownership is meaningful. Success in this role includes:

• Delivering high-quality FPGA/PLD solutions with strong technical execution
• Leading teams effectively through complex avionics development and certification environments
• Driving engineering rigor, reliability, and accountability
• Building scalable engineering processes and improving execution efficiency
• Contributing to successful delivery of advanced avionics programs
• Supporting strong collaboration across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Mentoring and developing high-performing engineers

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s or Advanced Degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
• 10+ years of FPGA / firmware / PLD development experience
• 2+ years of engineering leadership or management experience
• Strong background in FPGA/PLD architecture, RTL design, verification, and hardware integration
• Experience working within DO-254 or other highly regulated/certified development environments
• Ability to lead technical teams while maintaining strong engineering involvement
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills

Our Engineering Mindset & Core Values:

✨Innovation

We push avionics technology forward through creativity, engineering precision, and continuous improvement.

✨Resilience

We solve difficult technical challenges in complex certification and development environments.

✨Excellence

We hold ourselves to high engineering standards in quality, execution, and reliability.

✨“Yes, I Can” Ownership

We value engineers and leaders who are proactive, adaptable, collaborative, and solutions oriented.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out:

At Universal Avionics, engineers are trusted to make meaningful technical contributions that directly impact aerospace innovation and flight operations worldwide.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Influence real aerospace products used globally
• Lead highly visible engineering initiatives
• Work alongside experienced technical professionals
• Contribute to meaningful innovation in aviation technology
• Grow within an organization that values technical excellence and leadership

Benefits & Perks

Benefits begin on your first day as a full-time employee.

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with safe harbor match within 60 days.
• 9/80 work schedule option, every other Friday off
• Vacation, sick time, and 14 paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement
• Wellness and employee assistance programs
• And more

Work Environment

This role is based onsite in Duluth, Georgia due to the hands-on nature of hardware integration and lab collaboration. Our engineers work in a modern facility designed to support technical innovation, cross functional collaboration, and focused engineering work.

Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.

If you are looking for a role where your technical leadership directly impacts the future of flight, we would love to connect with you.

Learn more: UniversalAvionics.com

Universal Avionics’ products and technology are subject to U.S. export laws and regulations, including but not limited to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). As part of our compliance process, we inquire about work authorization and citizenship status to ensure alignment with these regulations.