Your space-enabled career begins here

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

The Advanced Research and Development (ARD) Division is searching for a Chief Engineer to research and develop new and innovative systems that are at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), Cyber Operations, and Electronic Warfare. The full system development cycle includes: Modeling and simulation, proof-of-concept prototyping, minimum viable products, developmental test and evaluation, and system transition to operations. The ideal candidate has worked in this area for DARPA and Service Labs as well as the US Air Force, US Navy, or the US Army.

Key duties include serving as:

• Technical Lead for Cog-Cyber/EW white papers and proposals.
• Principal Investigator for Cog-Cyber/EW IRADs and contracts.
• Technical Lead for briefings to Government and company senior staff and stakeholders.
• Technical conference session chairs, presenters, and author for technical publications

Position Responsibilities

• Supports the creation of product technical roadmaps by collaborating with Product Line Managers, Senior Engineering Managers, Customers, and Division Leadership.
• Collaborates with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure technical specifications, as designed, are managed/controlled and flow through the entire value chain.
• Supports the development of plans for product IRAD and sustaining projects through proper work decomposition and skills assignment to project work tasks.
• Manages development and approval of engineering estimates and drives to a consistent approach for bases of estimates.
• Develops and mentors high-performing engineering teams.
• Own engineering budgets, forecast, and IRAD execution.
• 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 engineering leadership and direct performance management of a group of Senior Engineering Managers.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Masters Degree or PhD in Electrical, Software, Computational Neuroscience Engineering discipline (or equivalent).
• 10 - 12 years of demonstrated experience in cognitive, cyber, electronic warfare. Plus, experience as a Principal Investigator or Individual Contributor
• Experience with leading technical teams through the system development 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 to government PMs, Government and Organizational senior leaders.
• 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 influence 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.
• Experienced and proficient with MS Office applications and other office productivity tools.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• 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.

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 20%.

Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance:

• Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating.
• May have some exposure to outside environment while traveling.

Special Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Existing DoD Secret top secret with an ability to SCI and special access
• Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S.

Location

• Onsite in Dayton, OH or Germantown, MD OR Remote from MA or NH

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$154,500 - $227,325

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