Senior Avionics Systems Consultant

Primary Function

The Senior Avionics Systems Consultant provides independent technical analysis and advisory support for avionics, aircraft electrical systems, research flight hardware, simulators, and complex aircraft systems integration, including ILS, TCAS, and TACAN systems. The consultant evaluates complex technical issues, develops integration and troubleshooting strategies, assesses risk, and recommends solutions to NASA and program leadership.

This position works with engineering, maintenance, quality, flight operations, and program teams to guide technical decisions and improve system performance. The role is primarily analytical and advisory; routine installation, inspection, repair, aircraft servicing, and other technician assignments are performed by designated maintenance personnel.

Essential Duties

• Serve as a senior technical advisor on avionics and electrical systems across assigned research aircraft, simulators, and integrated aircraft systems.
• Analyze complex system failures, recurring discrepancies, test results, maintenance history, and engineering data; develop documented findings and recommended corrective actions.
• Evaluate proposed avionics modifications and system integrations for technical feasibility, system compatibility, airworthiness considerations, schedule impact, and operational risk.
• Provide senior technical expertise supporting the integration, troubleshooting, testing, and evaluation of ILS, TCAS, TACAN, and related aircraft communication, navigation, and surveillance systems.
• Develop technical approaches, integration plans, test strategies, and acceptance criteria in coordination with responsible engineers and program stakeholders.
• Review engineering work orders, schematics, drawings, configuration data, and technical instructions; identify gaps, conflicts, and implementation risks.
• Advise maintenance and engineering teams on diagnostic strategy and the interpretation of test results without assuming routine technician work assignments.
• Assess trends in NAMIS and other authorized records to identify recurring failures, reliability concerns, and opportunities for process improvement.
• Prepare technical assessments, decision briefs, recommendations, and reports for NASA and contractor leadership.
• Facilitate technical reviews and coordinate resolution of issues involving engineering, maintenance, quality assurance, flight operations, and external suppliers.
• Recommend improvements to avionics processes, documentation, training, configuration control, and technical risk management.
• Provide technical mentoring and knowledge transfer to engineering and maintenance personnel.
• Support investigations and reviews involving avionics discrepancies, test equipment, research hardware, or system integration.
• Perform other advisory and analytical duties within the authorized contract scope.

The consultant’s recommendations do not replace approvals or signoffs reserved for NASA, engineering authorities, Quality Assurance, Designated System Inspectors, or certified maintenance personnel.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, avionics, systems engineering, or a closely related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant technical experience.
• 15+ years of progressively responsible experience with aircraft avionics, electrical systems, systems integration, flight test, or a related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated experience with the integration, troubleshooting, testing, or technical evaluation of ILS, TCAS, TACAN, and related aircraft avionics systems.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing complex technical problems and developing recommendations that influence engineering or program decisions.
• Extensive working knowledge of aircraft communications, navigation, surveillance, flight control, flight management, flight display, and related electrical systems.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, schematics, test data, configuration records, and technical requirements.
• Experience coordinating across engineering, maintenance, quality, and operations teams.
• Strong technical writing, presentation, and stakeholder communication skills.
• Ability to meet applicable NASA access, safety, and project orientation requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting NASA research aircraft or flight test programs.
• Experience with airworthiness processes, engineering work orders, configuration management, and system verification.
• Familiarity with NAMIS or comparable aircraft maintenance and reliability data systems.
• Relevant FAA, FCC, NASA workmanship, or industry credentials where useful to the advisory assignment.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None. The position may lead technical reviews and provide guidance to multidisciplinary teams but does not have direct personnel management responsibility.

Working Environment

NASA aircraft operations and engineering environment. Work is performed primarily in office, engineering, laboratory, and aircraft operations settings. The position may require visits to hangars, aircraft, test facilities, or other operational areas to observe conditions and collaborate with technical teams. Schedule flexibility may be needed to support program milestones and flight operations.

PREFERENCE STATEMENT
Preference will be given to Calista shareholders and their descendants and to spouses of Calista shareholders, and to shareholders of other corporations created pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, in accordance with Title 43 U.S. Code 1626(g).

EEO STATEMENT
Additionally, it is our policy to select, place, train and promote the most qualified individuals based upon relevant factors such as work quality, attitude and experience, so as to provide equal employment opportunity for all employees in compliance with applicable local, state and federal laws and without regard to non-work related factors such as race, color, religion/creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship, genetic information, or other protected status. When applicable, our policy of non-discrimination applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, transfer, promotion, placement, layoff, compensation, termination, reduction in force and benefits.
 
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
It is Calista and Subsidiaries' business philosophy and practice to provide reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities.
 
The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general content and requirements for performance of this job.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities, and requirements.
 
This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter the scope of work within the framework of this job description at any time without prior notice.