Your space-enabled career begins here

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

We are seeking an experienced candidate to serve as a Subsystem IPT Lead for a complex space program. In this role, you will own the cost, schedule, and technical performance of the electrical hardware scope, leading a cross‑functional team to deliver compliant products on time and within budget under an EVMS environment.

You will coordinate closely with Systems, Mechanical, Firmware, Assembly, Integration and Test, and Program Management to plan and execute the subsystem work scope from requirements development through integration, test, and production support.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Program Electrical Engineering/Subsystem IPT, reporting to program management.
• Own the technical baseline for the subsystem: requirements allocation, architecture, design decisions, and interfaces.
• Planning responsibility over the design, analysis, schematic/PCB development, prototyping, integration, and verification activities.
• Drive risk and opportunity management: identify technical and programmatic risks, develop mitigation plans, and track through closure.
• Lead and coordinate technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.) for the subsystem.
• Define, plan, and maintain the Electrical Engineering Control Accounts, including Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), work packages, and planning packages.
• Develop and manage detailed schedules, budgets, and resource plans for the assigned scope, to include identification of critical path activities and risk mitigation strategies.
• Manage cost and schedule performance using Earned Value Management System (EVMS) metrics (CPI, SPI, ETC/EAC, variance analysis).
• Prepare and present monthly Control Account Manager (CAM) reports, variance analysis reports (VARs), and recovery plans to program leadership and the customer.
• Support internal and customer reviews (e.g., PMRs, PDRs, CDRs, surveillance audits) as the accountable owner for the Electrical Engineering control accounts.

• Support make/buy decisions, supplier selection, SOW definition, and technical oversight of electrical hardware suppliers.
• Work with Manufacturing and Test Engineering to ensure designs are producible, testable, and support yield and cost targets.
• Support proposal efforts and change proposals: develop BOEs, schedules, and risk assessments for new or modified scope.
• Some travel required (~20%).

Required Skills and Education:

• Must have 10+ years of relevant experience in engineering management, including direct implementation of EVMS principles.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience as a CAM or similar role with responsibility for cost and schedule performance under EVMS on a complex program.
• Proven experience leading cross‑functional engineering teams or acting as an IPT/technical lead.
• Strong understanding of full product life cycle: requirements, design, analysis, integration, test, and transition to production.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and act on cost/schedule metrics and to develop credible recovery plans.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to internal and customer leadership.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and other program management tools (e.g., Jira, Gitlab, etc.).
• Strong leadership and team‑building abilities; able to influence without direct authority.
• High accountability for commitments, with a track record of delivering on cost/schedule/technical objectives.
• Structured problem‑solving and root‑cause analysis skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, matrixed organization.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOD Clearance.

Desired Skills and Education:

• Master’s degree in Electrical or Systems engineering.
• Formal EVMS training and experience supporting customer EVMS/IBR reviews.
• Experience leading efforts through major design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) and qualification/acceptance testing.
• Experience with model‑based systems engineering (MBSE) and/or digital engineering environments.
• Current DoD security clearance, or equivalent.

Physical Demands

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

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$101,000 - $143,325

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.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

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 required