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Job Description

AV is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Lead Electrical Engineer to join our Kinetic Effectors Group. This role will support the design, development, and integration of electrical systems for the Next Generation Counter Uncrewed Aerial System Missile (NGCM) in support of national defense objectives. This is a hands-on, mid-career engineering role focused on embedded electronics, power systems, avionics, and missile subsystem integration and associated testing. You will work closely with cross-functional engineering teams, government customers, and suppliers to deliver cutting-edge solutions in a mission-critical environment.

Key responsibilities for successful candidates:

• Design, analyze, and test electrical hardware for missile components including power distribution, control electronics, telemetry, and interface circuits.
• Develop and manage electrical schematics, PCB layouts, wiring diagrams, and cable assemblies.
• Support component selection and procurement, ensuring conformance with military and environmental standards.
• Conduct design verification, validation, and hardware troubleshooting during lab, ground, and flight tests.
• Collaborate with systems engineers to define and implement electrical interfaces, requirements, and ICDs.
• Assist in EMI/EMC compliance testing and environmental qualification (e.g., vibration, thermal, shock).
• Support integration and test activities in lab and field environments, including missile checkout procedures.
• Document engineering work through detailed drawings, reports, test plans, and configuration control systems.
• Assist with program schedule creation and hardware development planning
• Develop engineering labor and material estimates

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Minimum of 8 – 12 years of relevant experience
• Candidate must be a U.S. citizen with an active Secret security clearance.
• Understanding and application of industry electrical engineering technical standards; demonstrated electrical component design experience
• Experience with circuit design and application
• Experience using analytical software tools, such as MATLAB or Python, to analyze and reduce data to identify key characteristics and trends
• Demonstrated experience in electrical power distribution and design systems
• Ability to interpret and develop electrical schematics
• Experience with requirements-driven hardware design and circuitry design
• Experience with classified test systems or systems subject to cyber security policies and risk management framework (RMF) engineering technical standards
• Experience with analog and digital circuit design
• Experience with printed circuit board design and layout using ECAD tools
• Ability to present engineering materials for requirements, design, and various milestones
• Experience evaluating commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts for compliance
• Experience researching, developing, designing and testing circuits, components and equipment systems
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing is essential.
• Must be proficient in use Microsoft business tools including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Experience supporting a DoD missile program from concept through flight test.
• Working knowledge of Explosives Safety and Ordnance System Safety.
• Experience developing and releasing formal engineering documentation including technical drawings, specifications, and test procedures
• Experience with telemetry systems
• Experience with mission critical and safety critical systems, components, connectors, cables, etc.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-1901A, MIL-STD-882, EWR-127, RCC 319, RCC 324, DoDEA 8510.01, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-464, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3ab, ECSS-ST-50-11C
• Prior work with air-to-air, air-to-ground, or surface-to-air missile systems.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office (Constant)
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Clearance Level

The salary range for this role is:

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR