Payload Integration Lead

About US

Skydweller Aero Inc. is a transatlantic cutting-edge aerospace company developing solar powered aircraft solutions capable of achieving perpetual flight with heavy, and powerful payload capacity. Utilizing technology based upon the longest continuous renewably powered flight program in history, this fast-growing startup is developing a new class of unmanned aircraft, providing the persistence of geosynchronous satellites with the powerful sensing capabilities and the flexibility of a large, airborne platform. Skydweller Aero Inc. has World and US headquarters in Oklahoma City and European offices headquartered in Spain.

Utilizing technology based upon the longest, continuous solar powered flight program in history, our fast-growing start up is defining a new class of unmanned aircraft, empowering a ​more secure and connected world.

 Job Description

• Responsible for the selection and integration of payloads/sensors onboard the Skydweller Unmanned Air System (UAS).


• Define all system-level and subsystem-level requirements for payloads and sensors (e.g. EOIR, Radar, SIGINT, comms-relay, etc)


• Work with vendors around the world to perform trade studies on payload candidates according to mission-level and system-level requirements and performance objectives.


• Responsible for establishing the Skydweller payload-bay ICD to enable plug-and-play of future payloads/sensors. Includes defining all aspects of the payload bay(s) including thermal/environmental, electrical, mechanical, data/networking, EMI/EMC, apertures)


• Manage hardware and software engineers to integrate payloads/sensors onto the aircraft


• Work with Ground Segment team to integrate and/or develop software to be installed in the ground segment to control payloads, downlink data, and perform processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED).


• Work with network and communications team to design the air-to-ground network topology, router configurations, network management software, and air-to-ground data parameters and format to enable effective operations of the payloads.


• Work with ground segment and communications leads to develop a hardware-in-the-loop simulation environment to test the end-to-end system from operator command to payload action and downlink and dissemination of data.


• Develop a verification, and validation approach and test suite

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree (or higher) in Engineering or Computer Science


• Experience integrating payloads/sensors onboard aircraft


• Strong understanding of payload integration requirements (e.g. electrical, mechanical, environmental, EMI/EMC, thermal, etc.)


• Understanding of flight safety requirements for payload integration


• Demonstrated history across all aspects of the systems engineering process: requirements development, design, development, integration, test, verification, and validation.


• Knowledge of aircraft command and control functions


• Experience with payload management software and PED tools

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience integrating payloads/sensors onboard unmanned aircraft


• Experience developing ground control system software for unmanned aircraft.


• Experience with safety-critical software development


• Strong coding skills.


• Experience with line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight (SATCOM) datalinks


• Strong understanding of IP network architectures


• Experience with DO-178C


• Experience with STANAG 4586


• Experience supporting UAV flight tests


• Experience working in hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) or system integration labs (SIL)


• Experience with real-time operating systems


• Working knowledge of RF communication links and interfaces


• Experience building command centers

Preferred Tools / Process Experience

• SCADE


• Polarion


• Jira


• Confluence


• Team Center

Search Keywords

• Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV)


• Unmanned Air System (UAS)


• Ground Control System (GCS)

Please Note

1. Please ensure your resume (CV) is in English.


2. This position will require some travel


3. Also please do not have more than one job application, rather apply to one position and refer to other positions that you are interested in, in the NOTES section.


4. Since BambooHR is a 3rd party software, please always check your spam folder for our responses.

Company Benefits

1. Health insurance: We offer health insurance to all FTEs, which can include medical, dental, and vision coverage.
2. Paid time off: This includes vacation time, sick leave, and personal days.
3. Flexible schedules: we offer flexible schedules; we help employees achieve a better work-life balance.
4. Professional development opportunities
5. Wellness programs: we offer wellness programs that promote healthy living and can include things like gym memberships, nutrition counseling, or stress-management classes.
6. Flex Remuneration.
7. Meal Vouchers.
8. Stock options: all FTEs after one year of seniority may have the opportunity to receive options as part of their compensation package.
9. Bonuses: we offer bonuses or other forms of performance-based compensation to reward employees for their hard work and achievements.
10. Fruits and soft drinks in the office.