Principal Hardware-in--Loop Engineer

Position: Principal Hardware-in-the-Loop Engineer
CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage-domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats.

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, and London. For more information, please visit

Role Overview:

CHAOS is seeking a Principal Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Engineer to lead the architecture, development, and deployment of advanced HIL simulation environments supporting high-reliability effector platforms. This role is responsible for defining scalable, high-fidelity validation frameworks that enable full system integration testing across multiple programs-bridging software, autonomy, and flight hardware.

This position spans the full lifecycle of HIL development, from early requirements shaping and simulation architecture through hardware/software integration, automated test development, system validation, and transition to flight test. The ideal candidate is a highly experienced, hands-on engineer who can lead complex HIL efforts, guide other engineers, and ensure consistent, high-quality validation approaches across programs.

This is a full-time, on-site position in Hawthorne, CA.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the architecture, design, and development of HIL test benches for full effector system integration, including flight controllers, ESCs, sensors, and ground control systems

• Define HIL strategy, fidelity requirements, and validation approaches to ensure comprehensive system-level test coverage prior to flight

• Establish reusable approaches for HIL system design, model integration, and test automation across programs

• Architect and integrate high-fidelity simulation models (flight dynamics, actuator, and sensor models) that accurately replicate real-world behavior

• Lead integration of hardware components into HIL systems, including flight computers, ESCs, communication links, sensors, and power systems

• Drive development of automated test frameworks, regression infrastructure, and CI/CD integration for continuous validation of software and firmware

• Guide debugging and root cause analysis of complex hardware-software interactions using HIL data, logs, and telemetry

• Collaborate with GNC, software, and systems engineering teams to define verification strategies, test plans, and acceptance criteria across programs

• Own, maintain, and improve test infrastructure, including simulation software, real-time targets, and data acquisition systems

• Document test methodologies, procedures, and results clearly for cross-functional team use

• Support transition of HIL-validated systems to integration and flight test phases

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field

• 10+ years of experience in hardware-in-the-loop testing, embedded systems integration, or a closely related discipline

• Hands-on experience building and operating HIL or SIL simulation environments for embedded or autonomous systems

• Proficiency in real-time simulation platforms (e.g., dSPACE, NI Veri Stand, or similar)

• Strong programming skills in Python and/or C/C++ for test automation and system scripting

• Familiarity with flight controller software such as PX4, Ardu Pilot, or equivalent

• Experience with communication protocols common in drone systems (MAVLink, CAN, UART, SPI, I2C)

• Solid understanding of effector system architecture, including propulsion, navigation, and control loops

• Experience with version control systems and CI/CD pipelines for automated testing

• Strong analytical, debugging and root cause analysis skills across hardware, software, and simulation domains

• Demonstrated ability to lead technical efforts and guide engineers through complex integration and troubleshooting challenges

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Preferred…