Electronics & Embedded Systems (UAV) - Manager

Title: Manager or Deputy Manager – Electronics & Embedded Systems (Avionics)

About Samtel Samtel Avionics Ltd. (SA) is a key Indian player in high-technology products for avionics and military applications, rugged displays, cockpit displays and equipment for military and commercial platforms. Samtel Avionics straddles the entire value chain from design, development, manufacture, testing, qualification, repair & maintenance to obsolescence management of avionics products and equipment. Its products and services include Multi-Function Displays, Smart Multi-Function Displays, Displays for commercial aircraft, Head Up Displays, Helmet Mounted Sight Displays, Automated Test Equipment, Multifunction Indicators: 3ATI & 4ATI, Optronics, Rugged displays for Land, Naval and Airborne platforms, Built-to-print/Built-to-Specs manufacturing, MRO services, and Obsolescence Management.

Samtel HAL Display Systems Ltd. (SHDS) is a joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Samtel Avionics and was created to address the avionics requirements including Test Benches and Systems for all HAL star platforms - both fixed and rotary wing. The Samtel-HAL JV already enjoys the unique distinction of being the first public-private partnership in defence avionics space in India to indigenously design, qualify and serial produce multifunction displays which are currently flying on Su-30 MKI.

Role Overview The Manager or Deputy Manager – Electronics & Embedded Systems (Avionics) will be responsible for the electronics design, system architecture, integration, tuning, validation and troubleshooting of avionics and electronic systems used in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The role demands strong expertise in aerospace electronics, PCB design, wiring architecture, firmware-hardware integration, system debugging, operations in GNSS denied environment and aircraft-level integration. The candidate will ensure seamless integration of avionics subsystems with airframe, propulsion, payload, anti-jamming & anti-spoofing, Remote Video Terminal (RVT), Ground Data Terminal (GDT) and Ground Control System (GCS) while maintaining aerospace-grade reliability and compliance standards.

Key Responsibilities

Electronics or Avionics System Architecture & Design Design and develop UAV avionics architecture (power distribution, flight control electronics, communication systems, sensor interfaces). Selection and validation of avionics components (IMUs, GPS, RF modules, ESCs, telemetry systems, power modules, etc.). Define system-level electrical architecture and redundancy philosophy. Develop system block diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs), and wiring schematics.

PCB Design & Hardware Development Oversee design of high-reliability avionics PCBs (4 - 12+ layers) with mixed-signal, RF and high-speed interfaces. Work with embedded hardware tools (Altium, KiCAD, Cadence Allegro) for schematic capture & layout. Debug PCB-level issues (signal integrity, noise, grounding, thermal issues). Ensure compliance with EMI/EMC standards, grounding principles, thermal management and robust mechanical protection. Prepare component selection, validation and vendor qualification for aerospace-grade electronics.

Embedded Firmware & Software Integration Lead development of real-time embedded firmware for UAV systems using C/C++ (ARM, STM32, ESP32, PIC, etc.). Interfacing with sensors (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, RS485), GPS modules, IMU fusion and telemetry protocols. Develop and optimize firmware for control loops, sensor fusion, flight logic and safety-critical routines. Integrate custom electronics with PX4/ Ardupilot or proprietary autopilot stacks. Support bootloader development, OTA firmware update architecture and secure firmware pipelines.

System Integration - Testing, Debugging & Reliability Lead integration of electronics with propulsion, mechanical systems, autopilot, payloads, battery and communication systems. Perform aircraft-level tuning of Flight Controllers, IMU calibration, ESC tuning, Sensor filtering & signal conditioning Conduct ground tests: HIL/SIL, EMI/EMC testing, thermal tests, vibration tests, drop tests and environmental qualification. Troubleshoot complex hardware/software interactions, signal integrity issues and performance bottlenecks. Support flight-testing campaigns with root-cause analysis and rapid design iteration.

Power & Communication Systems Design robust power architectures for UAVs including: Battery systems, BMS, smart power switching, Power redundancy, isolation, filtering, High-current distribution for propulsion systems Develop and integrate datalinks (S-band/C-band/LTE/Mesh radios) and encrypted communication modules Ensure compliance with defence communication standards with Anti-jamming & Anti-spoofing resilience.

Wiring Architecture & GD&T Design aircraft wiring harness architecture. Develop routing layouts considering EMI shielding, weight optimization, maintainability Prepare detailed wiring diagrams and connector pinouts. Apply GD&T principles in mechanical-electrical interface design. Ensure manufacturability and assembly efficiency.

Documentation & Compliance Create detailed design documents, test reports, BOMs, qualification matrices and change logs. Ensure compliance with aerospace/defence standards: MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-810, STANAG, DGCA, CEMILAC, JSS-55555, DGQA and defence certification requirements Drive PDRs, CDRs and design review cycles with internal teams and customers.

Team Leadership & Coordination Mentor a team of embedded engineers, hardware engineers and test engineers. Plan work distribution, project timelines and deliverables across multiple UAV programs. Collaborate with software, mechanical, GNC and manufacturing teams. Ensure a culture of collaboration, humility and disciplined engineering.

Required Skills & Experience Technical Expertise B.Tech/ M.Tech/ MS in Electronics, Electrical, Embedded Systems or related fields. 5 - 12 years of experience in UAV, aerospace, robotics or defence electronics. Strong command of embedded electronics design, PCB layout and real-time firmware. Expertise with STM32/ARM Cortex microcontroller families and RTOS environments. Working knowledge of PX4/Ardupilot integration and flight control electronics. Experience with RF systems, datalinks, and antenna integration. Proficiency in hardware debugging tools: oscilloscopes, logic analysers, spectrum analysers. Strong understanding of sensor fusion, navigation sensors, IMU/GNSS integration. Understanding of power systems, converters, BMS, MOSFET/ESC control circuits. Hands-on experience taking electronics from concept → prototype → tested → production. Experience managing or mentoring engineering teams. Experience in loitering munitions, swarming platforms, high-reliability UAVs, or mission-critical avionics. Exposure to cybersecurity, secure communication, and encryption modules. Experience with DO-160/DO-254 aerospace certification processes.

Why apply If you are looking for a role that combines technical ability and research thinking capacity within a cutting-edge, growing Global tech business, then this could be the role for you. If you meet the requirements above, then we’d love to hear from you. Send your CV at hr@samtelgroup.com