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Job Description

At AV, our Space RF Systems Division develops next-generation technologies that support missions of national importance. We are seeking a Deputy Chief Engineer (Deputy CE) to join our senior technical leadership team. Reporting directly to the Division Chief Engineer, you’ll play a pivotal role in driving technical execution excellence across high-visibility defense programs.

This role is ideal for an accomplished engineering leader who thrives at the intersection of systems engineering rigor, innovation, and mission delivery. You’ll guide multidisciplinary teams from concept through deployment, ensuring technical integrity while balancing performance, cost, and schedule.

The SRFS Deputy Chief Engineer will serve as a senior member of the technical staff responsible for establishing and maintaining technical execution excellence for the Space RF Systems Division. Reporting to the Division Chief Engineer, the Deputy CE should be a self-starter, motivated, and qualified candidate who has relevant experience leading technical execution of complex defense programs that have a national importance. While the Deputy CE will have visibility across the SRFS division, their primary responsibility will be for technical execution on the program(s) within the portfolio to which they are assigned.

Essential Functions

• Oversees and drives the daily technical execution and team tasking of the cradle-to-grave engineering to assure quality, safety, and engineering soundness & rigor that balances with the cost, schedule and requirements goals outlined in the contracts.

• Controls the technical baseline of the program(s) to which they are assigned.

• Ensures developmental programs employ tailored levels of process and paperwork, but not at the expense of creative engineering, agile prototyping, or a culture of innovation.

• Establishes short term, prioritized task lists and sprint schedules with technical staff, provides team technical tasking and prioritization, monitors technical performance, and reports status back to CE/PM.

• Develops and adapts program technical execution plan and provides inputs to PM team to support schedule development, updates and milestone schedule progress.

• Reviews and must approve any program schedule or plan as well as key changes (a) at the time of proposal or (b) during program execution.

• Ensures technical design meets program requirements, through simulation and modeling review, test and measurement data review, and customer communication with Technical Interchange Meetings

• Ensure technical accuracy and quality of all CDRL / program technical status reports to customer, presents technical status to customer, and participates in all routine customer status and coordination meetings.

• Conducts weekly or bi-weekly feedback/pulse checks with the technical staff to ensure team alignment, identify issues, formulate mitigations/enhancements and evaluate programmatic impact. Report these in aggregate form to Portfolio Manager and Division Chief Engineer.

• Collaborate with the Division Chief Engineer and Portfolio Manager to establish the appropriate risk position for the program(s) they are responsible for, work with the team to identify risks and opportunities and plans to mitigate/capture. Ensure new risks or opportunities are clearly communicated to the Portfolio Manager and Division Chief Engineer.

• For new captures to which they are assigned, the Deputy Chief Engineer is responsible for developing a winning technical baseline, establishing the technical plan for the proposed effort, and overseeing the creation of the proposal Tech Volume.

• Creates favorable culture to increase productivity, sound engineering, and innovation.

• Establishes regular, agile technical peer review process across team to check and validate design changes as well as design elements that trace to critical performance requirements.

• Provides technical mentoring to rising technical leaders.

Competencies

• Strong Leadership

• Broad Systems Engineering p with technical depth in at least one discipline

• Ethical Conduct

• Strong Attention to Detail

• Structured Problem Solving

• Critical and Thinking

• Organizational Skills

• Self-Starter

• Strong Communication Skills

• Time Management

• Commitment

• Demonstrated Team Player

Required Education and Experience

• BS degree in an engineering field

• 10+ years relevant experience within an engineering field

• 5+ years of engineering team leadership experience

• Able to obtain and maintain a US Department of Defense Security Clearance

Preferred Education and Experience

• MS degree in an engineering field

• Excellent communication skills including speaking, writing, and listening, such that ideas and information are clearly conveyed, and meaning is obtained

• Experience evaluating performance on current and previous awards regarding engineering, research and development, subcontracts, costs, and profit

• Experience with US Department of Defense

• Current, active US Department of Defense Security Clearance

• Supervisory Responsibility

While this role has no direct personnel responsibilities, the Deputy CE is responsible for daily technical supervision and tasking of IPT leads and technical staff on the program(s) to which they are assigned, as well as to provide real-time performance feedback as well as input to employees' formal personal development process.

Primary Location

Albuquerque Office

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