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Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

The Product Line Chief Engineer is the overall technical authority for the Titan CUAS product line. The PLCE is accountable for all technical aspects of Titan products and leads a team of engineers to ideate, conceptualize, develop, launch, and sustain products throughout the total product lifecycle. The PLCE works with Senior Engineers, Customers, and Leadership to develop concepts of operations which feed into product roadmaps to meet business objectives. The PLCE chairs technical reviews and drives the technical requirements

Position Responsibilities

• Personifies the AV pillar of “Innovation”.
• As the Titan Engineering Authority, oversees all technical development and product sustainment activities within the Titan product line.
• Drives technical responses for business proposals
• Leads the technical team that will efficiently and effectively fulfill program technical, schedule and cost requirements and drives process improvements
• Chairs technical reviews and is the final authority for product documentation and engineering change requests/orders
• Collaborates with Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure technical specifications, as designed, are managed/controlled and flow through the entire value chain
• Responsible for all technical aspects of the product
• Supports the development of plans for product IRAD and sustaining projects through proper work decomposition and skills assignment to project work tasks
• Develops and mentors high-performing engineering teams
• Leads multi-discipline engineering activities and mentors engineers to improve technical and leadership skills
• Partners with functional leaders to drive process improvements throughout the engineering development processes
• Responsible for leadership and direct performance management of a group of Senior Engineering Managers
• Works with other Engineering Managers to staff and prioritize engineering tasking across various Titan development efforts
• Leads root cause investigations and rolls out corrective actions (RCCA)
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications

• Master Degree or PhD in a Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering discipline (or equivalent). Experience with RF strongly preferred.
• Experience with Defense products and customers, especially in C-UAS products
• Minimum of 15 years of demonstrated experience in product design and sustainment
• Ability to obtain a Secret level clearance
• Experience with leading large technical teams through the product lifecycle
• Experience with drawings and BOMs; Engineering Change systems; Quality systems for non-conforming parts and corrective action
• Experience in an Agile and Waterfall development environment
• Excellent verbal, presentation, and written communication skills
• Experience project planning in terms of schedule, budget, and resource estimations
• Exceptional leadership and management skills, with the ability to develop and communicate a vision that inspires and motivates staff and aligns with the business strategy
• Ability to build strong relationships within all disciplines within organization
• Effective influencing and negotiation skills in an environment in which resources may not be under your direct control
• Experience with product manufacturing and product configuration processes
• Experience leading a multi-disciplinary team in an engineering environment
• Project Management Experience
• Experienced and proficient with MS Office applications and other office productivity tools

Desired Qualifications

• Education / experience in R&D environment is preferred, especially in RF field
• Follows standard practices and procedures when analyzing situations or data from which answers can be readily obtained. Completes assigned tasks within schedule and budget
• Shares ideas and experiences with others, solicits feedback and asks relevant questions
• Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
• Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
• Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products
• Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company
• Has effective problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills
• Team Player - Focuses on teamwork, collaboration and puts the success of the team above one's own interests
• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees
• Direct technical expertise in as many of the following areas as possible:
  • RF, to include high power amplifiers, signal conditioning, and SDRs
  • C-UAS products
  • AI/ML
  • Image processing
  • Digital signal processing
  • Radio frequency spectrum and modern communication systems
  • Robust mechanical design for military/defense sectors
    

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment
• Required to sit and stand for long periods (Frequent)
• Required to talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)
• Travel required to domestic US sites - up to 10%
  

Special Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Existing DoD Secret security clearance preferred
• Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S.
• Location: San Diego, CA

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$181,370 - $257,250

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

U.S. Citizenship is required. Secret or Top Secret clearance, or the ability obtain a clearance is desired.