Hardware-in-the-Loop Engineer, CHAOS Industries

• The ideal candidate has hands-on experience building and operating HIL or SIL simulation environments for embedded or autonomous systems
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• 3+ years of experience in hardware-in-the-loop testing, embedded systems integration, or a closely related discipline
• Hands-on experience building and operating HIL or SIL simulation environments for embedded or autonomous systems
• Proficiency in real-time simulation platforms (e.g., dSPACE, NI VeriStand, or similar)
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or C/C++ for test automation and system scripting
• Familiarity with flight controller software such as PX4, ArduPilot, or equivalent
• Experience with communication protocols common in drone systems (MAVLink, CAN, UART, SPI, I2C)
• Solid understanding of effector system architecture, including propulsion, navigation, and control loops
• Experience with version control systems and CI/CD pipelines for automated testing
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills across hardware and software domains
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Desirable

• CHAOS is seeking a skilled Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Engineer to join our hardware engineering team
• In this role, you will design, build, and maintain HIL simulation environments that enable full system integration testing of our Effector platforms — bridging the gap between software development and flight hardware
• You will work closely with GNC, software, and systems engineers to ensure our vehicles are thoroughly validated before ever leaving the ground
• Design and develop HIL test benches for full effector system integration, including flight controllers, ESCs, sensors, and ground control systems
• Integrate high-fidelity simulation models (flight dynamics, actuator, and sensor models) that accurately replicate real-world behavior
• Integrate hardware components - including autopilot boards, communication links, power systems, and peripherals - into HIL systems
• Develop automated test suites and regression frameworks to validate software and firmware changes against HIL environments
• Collaborate with software and integration/test engineers to define test plans and acceptance criteria for new features and hardware releases
• Debug complex hardware-software interactions by analyzing HIL test data, logs, and telemetry
• Maintain and improve test infrastructure, including simulation software, real-time targets, and data acquisition systems
• Document test methodologies, procedures, and results clearly for cross-functional team use
• Support transition of HIL-validated systems to integration and flight test phases