When you join Honeywell, you become a member of our global team of thinkers, innovators, dreamers, and doers who make the things that will shape the future. We are redefining what’s possible in flight by developing new technologies to achieve a higher level of connectivity between aircrafts, pilots and ground systems through cutting-edge technologies that make aerospace safer, smarter and more sustainable. You’ll be a part of a global team pushing the boundaries of innovation within our Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) organization.
As a Lead Datalink Systems Engineer, you will provide technical leadership for aircraft datalink communication systems that connect aircraft, pilots, airline operations, and ground infrastructure. You will support system architecture, requirements definition, interface control, integration, verification, and certification activities for datalink capabilities using industry standards such as ACARS, ATN, VDL-Mode 2, SATCOM, CPDLC, FANS, and applicable ARINC standards. You will work across software, hardware, systems, test, product, program, supplier, customer, and certification teams to guide technical decisions, resolve integration challenges, and deliver reliable, compliant aerospace communication solutions.
ResponsibilitiesKEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead system-level design, integration, verification, and validation activities for aircraft datalink communication systems
- Define and manage system requirements, interface control documents, message flows, protocol behavior, assumptions, and compliance evidence with clear traceability
- Evaluate datalink performance, reliability, interoperability, availability, latency, throughput, error handling, and degraded-mode operation
- Support architecture and design trade studies for ACARS, ATN/OSI, ATN/IPS, VDL Mode 2, SATCOM, CPDLC, FANS, and IP-based aircraft-to-ground communication capabilities
- Support certification planning, safety reviews, requirements validation, verification evidence, and compliance closure aligned with DO-178C, DO-254, ARP4754A, and ARP4761 practices
- Investigate complex lab, flight-test, customer, and field issues using system logs, data traces, protocol captures, simulations, bench equipment, and structured root-cause analysis
- Provide senior technical guidance to cross-functional teams during design reviews, integration events, certification reviews, and issue-resolution discussions
- Travel within U.S. and/or internationally: 20%
YOU MUST HAVE
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field
- 8+ years of systems engineering experience with avionics, aircraft connectivity, aerospace communication systems, embedded systems, or safety-critical platforms
- Experience with datalink or avionics communication standards, system requirements, interface definition, integration, verification, validation, and system-level test activities
- Must be a United States Citizen due to contractual requirements
WE VALUE
- Knowledge of ACARS, ATN/OSI, ATN/IPS, VDL Mode 2, SATCOM, CPDLC, FANS, ARINC 618, ARINC 620, ARINC 623, ARINC 631, ARINC 633, ARINC 664/AFDX, or related aviation communication standards
- Experience with avionics certification and safety standards such as DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160, ARP4754A, ARP4761, DO-326A/ED-202A, or related airworthiness practices
- Experience with technology stack elements such as requirements tools, configuration management systems, simulation environments, HIL/SIL labs, protocol analyzers, bench test equipment, automated test frameworks, and data analysis tools
- Familiarity with tools and platforms such as DOORS, Jama, JIRA, Git, Teamcenter, MATLAB, Simulink, Python, Wireshark, Ethernet analyzers, serial bus analyzers, RF test equipment, and lab debugging workflows
- Ability to assess system behavior, interface impacts, link performance, network loading, cybersecurity considerations, certification risk, and operational tradeoffs
- Ability to lead technical reviews, mentor engineers, document architecture decisions, and communicate recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Self-motivated, detail-oriented individual who can translate customer, program, certification, and operational needs into practical system solutions
Due to compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations, candidate must be a U.S. Person, which is defined as, a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident, or have protected status in the U.S. under asylum or refugee status or have the ability to obtain an export authorizaion.
About us:
Join a company that's reintroducing itself to the aviation community we've helped advance for more than a century. At Honeywell Aerospace (NASDAQ: HONA), we're launching as an independent, publicly traded aerospace and defense company built on a legacy of operational excellence and mission-focused execution.
Our new brand identity pairs that heritage with real momentum, as we build technology that helps pilots navigate with confidence, aircraft operate more efficiently, and operators stay ahead of change. With our systems on board 90% of the world's aircraft, your work here has reach that's rare to find anywhere else.
Focusing on our customers, investing in innovation, and building a culture of accountability and performance is how we're shaping what comes next.
Every horizon. Every mission. Every day.
Benefits:
Beyond a performance-driven salary, you'll work alongside dedicated experts on technology that's advancing aviation. As a Honeywell Aerospace employee, you're eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Employer-subsidized medical, dental, vision and life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage
- 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts
- Employee assistance program and educational assistance
- Parental leave and 12 paid holidays
- Paid time off for vacation, personal and sick time
Explore your benefits: https://honeywellaerospacebenefits.com/
Electronic Solutions:
Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on aircraft across commercial aviation, defense and space — from engines and cockpit electronics to cabin systems, mechanical components and connectivity solutions. Our technology helps operators fly more safely, reduce fuel consumption, improve on-time performance and deliver a better experience for the people on board.
As aviation continues to evolve, we're also developing systems to support autonomous and supersonic platforms, bringing the same focus on safety and efficiency to the next era of flight. With approximately 36,000 employees worldwide and net sales of $17.4B in 2025, Honeywell Aerospace is one of the largest dedicated aerospace companies in the world. Explore our businesses: https://www.honeywellaerospace.com
Electronic Solutions develops the avionics, navigation systems, sensors and electromagnetic defense technology that help aircraft perform safely and with precision. Our systems are on board 90% of the world's aircraft — serving commercial aviation, defense and space operators from integrated flight deck platforms with 30-plus years in service to radiation-hardened systems trusted for human spaceflight.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field
- 8+ years of systems engineering experience with avionics, aircraft connectivity, aerospace communication systems, embedded systems, or safety-critical platforms
- Experience with datalink or avionics communication standards, system requirements, interface definition, integration, verification, validation, and system-level testing
- Must be a United States citizen due to contractual requirements
- Knowledge of ACARS, ATN/OSI, ATN/IPS, VDL Mode 2, SATCOM, CPDLC, FANS, ARINC standards, or related aviation communication standards
- Experience with avionics certification and safety standards, including DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160, ARP4754A, or ARP4761
- Experience with requirements tools, configuration management systems, simulation environments, HIL/SIL labs, protocol analyzers, test equipment, automated test frameworks, or data analysis tools
- Familiarity with DOORS, Jama, JIRA, Git, Teamcenter, MATLAB, Simulink, Python, Wireshark, Ethernet analyzers, serial bus analyzers, or RF test equipment
- Ability to assess system behavior, interface impacts, link performance, network loading, cybersecurity considerations, certification risk, and operational tradeoffs
- Ability to lead technical reviews, mentor engineers, document architecture decisions, and communicate recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders
The Aerospace Corporation Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about The Aerospace Corporation and has not been reviewed or approved by The Aerospace Corporation.
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Retirement Support — The 401(k) plan provides a company‑paid contribution of 8–12% based on years of service with immediate eligibility and vesting, and eligible employees can access retiree medical benefits.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off includes 15 vacation days (rising to 20 after five years), nine paid holidays, and unlimited sick time for exempt employees with accruals for non‑exempt staff.
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Flexible Benefits — Flexible work models include a 9/80 schedule with alternating Fridays off, supported by backup care services, an EAP, relocation assistance, and home‑office stipends where applicable.
The Aerospace Corporation Insights
What We Do
The space enterprise has been transformed by rapid change and growth. New vehicles for national security space, a more rapid launch cadence, proliferated satellite constellations, the pursuit of interplanetary exploration, and thriving commercial ventures are changing the nature of the space industry. The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) is a leading architect for U.S. space programs, shaping efforts to outpace threats to our national security while cultivating the technologies needed to further this new era of space commercialization and exploration. Aerospace works across the space enterprise in service of the public interest. In addition to supporting the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, our customers include NASA, NOAA, numerous federal agencies, and commercial space — all of whom benefit from our deep technical knowledge. We only pursue business related to the space mission and complementary fields, operating as the nation’s trusted partner to solve the toughest challenges and develop reliable and innovative technologies. Innovation in space occurs when people have the freedom to imagine and do. At Aerospace, we take pride in our readiness to solve some of the most complex challenges in the space enterprise.
Why Work With Us
We are a non-profit corporation chartered by the government to work on the hardest problems in space. We employ technical experts in every discipline of space-related science and engineering who touch every part of the US space program. Come join us as we make an impact bigger than ourselves.
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