Jobs at Zone 5 Technologies

Lead cybersecurity architecture and implementation for embedded flight software, unmanned aircraft systems, and mission-critical defense platforms. Design secure boot, cryptographic, authentication, integrity, and communications protections; conduct threat modeling, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing coordination, and security verification. Define requirements and technical acceptance criteria, integrate security across multidisciplinary engineering teams, support DoD cybersecurity assessments, develop security documentation, and mentor engineers on secure architecture and coding.

Owns aircraft and subsystem interfaces across flight software, avionics, sensors, payloads, datalinks, and ground systems. Authors ICDs, defines interface architectures, integrates hardware and software, and leads laboratory, ground, and flight verification. Develops simulators, test harnesses, and automated integration infrastructure; troubleshoots complex failures using network and bus analysis. Coordinates multidisciplinary teams, leads anomaly resolution, supports safety-critical testing, mentors engineers, and represents integration activities in technical and customer reviews.

Own full-cycle recruiting for production and manufacturing roles, particularly within the UAS sector. Partner with hiring managers, build scalable recruiting processes, source passive candidates, maintain talent pipelines, track hiring metrics, and forecast workforce needs. The role requires recruiting expertise in aerospace, defense, engineering, or manufacturing, experience scaling startup teams, and proficiency with ATS and recruiting tools.

Lead the architecture, design, production support, testing, and configuration control of electrical wiring interconnection systems for UAS and air-launched weapon platforms. Develop harness documentation and 3D integrations, ensure aerospace and military standards compliance, resolve manufacturing nonconformances, support EMI/EMC requirements, and mentor junior engineers and technicians.

Leads warehouse operations, inventory control, production scheduling, material flow, logistics, customs, and outbound shipping across manufacturing sites. Builds scalable Kanban, MRP, ERP, and MES processes supporting production readiness, NPI, demand planning, and material risk visibility. Oversees inventory accuracy, AS9100 compliance, continuous improvement, KPIs, vendor-managed inventory, and team development while partnering with Procurement, Production, Engineering, Quality, and Program Management.

Leads global procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, subcontract administration, cost management, and supplier performance for defense manufacturing. Builds a resilient supplier base, manages make-or-buy decisions, ensures FAR/DFARS and quality compliance, supports production and new product introduction, and develops a scalable procurement organization. Partners with Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance, Programs, and Quality while overseeing ERP and procurement-system improvements. The role is primarily based in San Luis Obispo, California, with approximately 40% travel.

Leads the electrical engineering team supporting UAS, precision weapons, and aerospace systems. Responsibilities include managing talent and staffing, defining engineering standards, overseeing architectures, schematics, harnesses, power budgets, design reviews, verification, configuration control, compliance, integration support, root-cause analysis, and process improvements. The manager also provides technical guidance, supports cross-functional programs, and contributes to proposals, cost estimates, schedules, and staffing plans.

Owns manufacturability, testability, and production readiness for electrical systems including PCBAs, wire harnesses, and avionics assemblies. Develops manufacturing processes, work instructions, production tests, fixtures, and automated test equipment. Leads quality and yield improvements, root-cause investigations, nonconformance disposition, supplier support, engineering change implementation, and lean process improvements. Mentors engineers and technicians while supporting aerospace and defense production ramp-up.

Leads EMI/EMC design for unmanned aircraft and weapon systems, including requirements flowdown, PCB and harness reviews, shielding, filtering, grounding, electromagnetic simulation, pre-compliance testing, formal qualification support, failure investigation, customer communication, and engineer mentorship. Ensures compliance with MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-464, and related aerospace and defense standards.

Performs reliability engineering for electrical and electronic systems used in aerospace, defense, avionics, power, and UAS applications. Responsibilities include reliability predictions, FMECA, derating analysis, design reviews, reliability testing, FRACAS, parts and obsolescence management, failure analysis, and customer deliverables. Requires a strong understanding of electronic failure mechanisms, reliability standards, accelerated testing, technical writing, and schematic review.

Plans, executes, and analyzes flight tests for unmanned aircraft systems. Responsibilities include developing test plans, conducting pre-flight inspections, remotely piloting UAVs, monitoring telemetry and flight data, troubleshooting issues, preparing reports, managing safety risks, coordinating with engineering and regulatory teams, and mentoring junior engineers. The role requires frequent outdoor work and travel to domestic and international flight-test events.

Plan, execute, and analyze flight tests for Group 1–4 unmanned aircraft systems. Responsibilities include developing test plans, conducting pre-flight inspections, remotely piloting UAVs, monitoring flight data, troubleshooting issues, preparing reports, managing safety risks, coordinating with engineering teams and regulators, and mentoring junior engineers. The role requires significant outdoor work at test sites and occasional domestic and international travel.

Leads domestic and international business development for Zone 5 Technologies’ precision deep-strike weapons portfolio. Owns opportunity pipelines, capture strategy, Pwin/Pgo assessments, bid/no-bid recommendations, proposal execution, and customer relationships across U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, R&D, and partner-nation stakeholders. Provides senior technical sales authority on air-launched weapons integration, mission employment, acquisition pathways, demonstrations, and program transitions. Requires extensive strike warfare, weapons acquisition, testing, engineering, or operational experience, strong technical writing, active Secret clearance, and 25–50% travel.

Leads European defense business development for FMS and DCS opportunities involving precision weapons, counter-UAS interceptors, and unmanned systems. Builds relationships with U.S. government agencies, NATO, European ministries of defense, and procurement organizations; manages regional pipeline, country engagement plans, market intelligence, and partner strategies. Guides opportunities through FMS and DCS milestones, coordinates internal capture and compliance teams, and ensures adherence to export-control, security cooperation, and anti-corruption requirements.

Leads reliability and maintainability activities across unmanned aircraft product lifecycles. Develops R&M architectures, reliability predictions, FMEA/FMECA, fault trees, reliability block diagrams, FRACAS processes, test plans, and reliability growth programs. Conducts failure investigations, corrective actions, maintenance analyses, and R&M risk mitigation. Presents analyses and compliance status to customers during milestone and design reviews, while ensuring adherence to defense reliability standards.

Develops persuasive proposals for aerospace and defense programs by analyzing solicitations, translating technical information, aligning content with evaluation criteria, and ensuring compliance with proposal requirements. Collaborates with technical, business development, engineering, contracts, finance, manufacturing, and executive teams. Leads proposal sections, reviews, revisions, content libraries, visual aids, and process improvements under tight deadlines while safeguarding proprietary and controlled information.

Designs, develops, tests, and integrates electrical systems for unmanned aircraft systems. Responsibilities include debugging microcontroller circuits, creating schematics and wiring documentation in Altium, troubleshooting wire harnesses, performing electrical tests, and serving as the avionics liaison to production. The role also leads small projects, resolves production non-conformances, and collaborates with mechanical, software, and cross-functional engineering teams.

Own configuration management for aerospace and defense programs across hardware, software, firmware, documentation, and technical data. Develop CM plans, manage baselines and product structures, facilitate configuration control boards, review engineering changes, maintain status accounting, verify implementation, and support audits and production readiness reviews. Coordinate alignment across engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, software, ERP/MRP, MES, QMS, PDM/PLM, and delivery records. Provide metrics, stakeholder guidance, training, and mentorship.

Creates primary aerodynamic surfaces, detailed composite structures, and accurate 3D aircraft models for prototype and production unmanned aircraft. Develops models from scan data and references, collaborates with engineering and design teams, and produces renderings, animations, visualizations, branding, and presentation materials. Requires deep expertise in Class-A surface modeling, composite detail design, surface continuity, geometry optimization, and aerospace or related industrial design.

Supports the design, development, integration, testing, wiring, and troubleshooting of electrical systems for unmanned aerial systems. Creates and documents wire harnesses, schematics, wiring diagrams, and test procedures; diagnoses circuit issues; collaborates with mechanical, software, and production teams; and helps resolve non-conformance issues.