Autonomy Engineering Manager

SkyGrid, a Boeing SparkCognition Company, exists to open the sky for autonomous flight. Based in Austin, Texas, SkyGrid builds high-assurance third-party services to enable the safe operations and airspace integration of autonomous aircraft. SkyGrid also acts as a key operational nexus for advanced air mobility, integrating and managing data, infrastructure, access, and traffic to support seamless and efficient air traffic services. The SkyGrid team is looking for an Autonomy Engineering Manager who will take a dual role in both overseeing the technical development and maturation of technologies related to conflict detection and resolution and flight planning of aircraft in urban air mobility (UAM) environments as well as the management of autonomy engineering staff supporting the development of such systems. These technologies are critical to the success of future UAM environments, and this role will drive the the definition and maturation of these technologies through productization. This includes defining the technological development and maturation plan from early technology readiness levels (e.g., TRL 1-3) through complete maturation (TRL 9). In this role, you will collaborate and coordinate with other functional managers and technical leads while reporting to the Chief Engineer. Performance Objectives:

• Define the overall architecture, requirements, and performance objectives for conflict detection and resolution and flight planning aspects of SkyGrid’s Provider of Services for UAM (PSU) systems
• Assess the current state of the system’s capabilities, then define the complete Technology Maturation Plan (TMP) for those elements from their current levels through productization (TRL 9)
• Align technological development requirements as defined in the TMP to critical engineering gate reviews (Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review, etc.).
• Hire, mentor, and lead staff in developing and implementing the required autonomy systems in accordance with the TMP and the defined gate criteria.
• Produce and discuss personnel goals in alignment with company Key Performance Indicators (KPI)s.
• Generate end year performance reviews for team members
  
  
  

Responsibilities:

• Define, plan and direct the activities necessary to develop and validate complex functions at various stages of technological readiness levels from conceptual design through to productization in accordance with the TMP.
• Responsible for the correctness, consistency, and timing of the autonomy division’s deliverables: Technological Maturation Plan (TMP), Technological Maturation Report (TMR) and TRL gate reviews. Nurture and grow the Autonomy division within SkyGrid.
• Mentor the career growth of team members, define yearly performance objectives, and conduct annual performance evaluations for team members.
• Identify critical hiring needs and necessary skill sets in the autonomy engineering domain; create job descriptions and lead hiring initiatives for those areas.
• Responsible for supporting other divisions (Airspace Integration, SEIT, SW, HW) in the definition, implementation, and validation of the simulation (SW/HW in-the-loop) environment.
• Provide executive status reports to leadership during weekly status checks and monthly PMRs.
  
  
  

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of hands-on experience developing complex functions, preferably in a real-time simulation environment.
• Minimum of 5 years as a team leader or equivalent leadership position
• Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or similar
• Software development experience, using C/C++, Python, Matlab/Simulink. 
• Strong understanding of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Model-Based Design (MBD) tools and methodologies.
• Bring an analytical mindset including the ability to decompose complex problems.
• Proven experience building Hardware- and Software-in-the-Loop (HIL/SIL) simulation test environments for validating complex functions in aerospace or related domains.
• Familiarity with air operations and UAM/AAM operations and concepts, including but not limited to optimization and resource allocation.
• Detailed experience in the design, implementation, testing, and verification of conflict detection and resolution algorithms for aircraft.
• Detailed experience in the design, implementation, testing, and verification of flight planning algorithms.
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous employment in academic, industry, or government organizations in leading research and development efforts in airspace traffic management, transportation logistics, or related fields
• Background in strategic and tactical deconfliction in transportation networks
• Experience in modeling and simulation of air traffic management or related environments
• Familiarity with Cloud technologies (GCP, AWS, Azure) and web service applications
  
  
  

Join Our Team and Enjoy Exceptional Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage from Day One: Enjoy immediate access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, including HSA and FSA options
• Generous Retirement Contributions: Benefit from an automatic company 401k contribution program, with no match required, plus an additional company matching program to boost your retirement savings
• Headspace Annual Membership: Prioritize your mental health with complimentary access to mindfulness and meditation resources
• Discounted ClassPass Membership: Stay active and healthy with access to thousands of fitness studios and gyms nationwide
• Investment in Your Growth: Receive an annual stipend for learning and development to support your continuous education and skill development
• Engaging Team Activities: Participate in quarterly team-building events and celebrations organized by our dedicated culture committee
• Fully Stocked Kitchen: Enjoy a variety of snacks and beverages to keep you fueled throughout the day
• Custom Lunches: Savor delicious, customized lunches on in-office days, tailored to your preferences