Director of Engineering

Arizona
Tucson Corporate Office
3260 E Universal Way
Tucson, AZ 85756, USA

Tucson, AZ (Onsite) | Aerospace & Avionics
Lead AI, Software, Systems Engineering & Image Processing
Shape the Technology Behind the Next Generation of Flight

Most engineering leaders never get the opportunity to shape technologies designed to operate in mission-critical environments at 30,000+ feet.

At Universal Avionics, you will!

We’re looking for a Director of Engineering who can bring together advanced technology, strong technical leadership, and the realities of aircraft integration. You’ll lead talented multidisciplinary teams, influence the direction of future products, and help turn emerging ideas in AI, software, computer vision, and systems engineering into reliable technologies built for real-world aviation.

Universal Avionics develops advanced avionics, enhanced vision systems, and intelligent cockpit technologies designed to improve aviation safety, situational awareness, and the future flight experience.

As Director of Engineering – AI, Software & Systems Engineering, you’ll lead a multidisciplinary organization at the center of some of our most advanced technology initiatives. Your teams will work across artificial intelligence and machine learning, software, systems engineering, computer vision, image processing, video analytics, and aircraft-level integration.

This role isn't about being the deepest technical expert in every discipline. It’s about having the technical judgment to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, evaluate competing approaches, and help talented engineers make strong architecture and design decisions.

You’ll also play a critical role in building the organization itself-developing technical leaders, strengthening engineering practices, shaping capabilities for the future, and creating an environment where innovation and disciplined execution reinforce one another.

• Set and communicate technical direction across AI/ML, software, systems engineering, computer vision, and image processing
• Guide architecture and complex engineering decisions while balancing innovation with aircraft constraints, reliability, safety, and business priorities
• Lead the integration of software, hardware, sensors, interfaces, and aircraft-level systems into cohesive, reliable solutions
• Identify technical risks early and help teams make thoughtful, evidence-based tradeoffs
• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing multidisciplinary engineering organization
• Coach engineering managers, technical leaders, engineers, and emerging talent while creating clear expectations and accountability
• Strengthen engineering practices that improve technical quality, predictability, collaboration, and execution
• Partner across Product, Program Management, Certification, Operations, and customer-facing teams to move technologies from advanced concepts toward aircraft-ready solutions
• Represent Engineering with senior leadership and translate complex technical topics into clear business, program, and customer implications
• Align engineering talent, capacity, and investment with future product strategy and customer commitments

We’re looking for a technical leader who can operate comfortably at the intersection of technology, people, aviation, and execution .

You’ll bring:

• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering organizations and developing strong technical leaders
• Relevant experience with aviation, avionics, aircraft systems, or airborne product development
• Practical technical depth across areas such as AI/ML, software engineering, systems engineering, computer vision, or image processing
• The ability to guide system architecture,…