Chief Engineer, Systems

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.

About the role

The Chief Engineer, Systems acts as a technical liaison between the Engineering, Program Management, Operations, and Supply Chain departments to ensure solutions to customer requirements are optimized, technically feasible, and achievable in terms of cost and schedule. In this role, you will oversee a portfolio of engineering projects and work with a talented group of engineers to drive those projects to completion as part of the design and development team led by the Director of Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates customer-provided requirements and identifies platform impacts, cost, schedule, and technical performance risks; communicates those to key stakeholders.
• Contributes to the development of new product requirements through consultations with Program Managers and end customers.
• Assists in the review and analysis of proposals, specifications, and Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Assists in defining system requirements and in the generation of specifications for products or sub-systems.
• Provides critical input to the preparation of successful proposal designs, cost estimates, and technical responses regarding resources (personnel, equipment, etc.).
• Ensures that integration efforts satisfy all performance requirements, achieve delivery schedule, stay within budget, and meet cost targets.
• Reviews Engineering Change Proposals (ECP), Requests for Deviation (RFD), and maintains system configuration baselines.
• Mentors and guides engineering personnel to improve technical and leadership skills.
• Works with applicable Program Manager and customer leads to facilitate the resolution of technical issues.
• Creates necessary documentation, such as requirements documentation, high-level design specifications, and test plans.
• Develops and presents materials for project-related briefings, including design reviews to internal and external customers.
• Acts as a resource for the development and review of specifications, CDRL’s, and ICD’s.
• Partners with senior leadership, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and other groups in setting priorities, establishing strategic plans, and addressing issues that cross departmental boundaries.
• Exercises wide latitude in determining objectives and approaches to critical assignments.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) field.
• 15 years of experience in an engineering design or development environment.
• 3 years of project management experience (PMP or CAPM certification a plus).
• Experience with integrating new capabilities onto platforms, requiring flow-down of requirements to lower-level systems.
• Experience in project planning in terms of schedule, budget, and resource estimations.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in a Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Systems Engineering discipline (or equivalent).
• Direct experience with design or development in the Aerospace or Defense industries (UAVs or Military aviation preferred).
• Proven success collaborating with Engineering disciplines (Electrical, Software, Mechanical, and System Engineers) to define system architecture and integration details.
• Possesses an interest in creating Architectures using Model Based Engineering tools.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and ability to resolve technical issues efficiently and independently, utilizing subject matter experts when needed.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and schematics, parts lists, specifications, instructions, and test procedures.
• Ability to effectively communicate with and present to various levels internally and externally to customers and suppliers.
• Proven leader who has demonstrated people development skills.
• Direct technical expertise in any of the following areas:
  • Avionics, sensors, and RF-based data links.
  • Radio frequency spectrum and modern communication systems.
  • SIGINT technologies and sensors, including EO/IR optics.
  • GPS navigation systems including DGPS, SAASM, and M-Code.
  • Aviation propulsion systems, including internal combustion and electric motors.
  • OCONUS military operations.

Physical Demands

• Ability to walk around the facility on a regular basis to facilitate communication, coordinate tasks, and resolve issues.
• Travel required to domestic US sites – up to 25%.
• Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment (constant).
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (frequent).

Pay

The salary range for this role is $154,500 - $247,250.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401K with company matching.
• 9/80 work schedule.
• Paid holiday shutdown.

This position requires access to information subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR and EAR, or be eligible for an export license. A "U.S. person" includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), refugees, or asylees. Some positions will require current U.S. citizenship due to contract requirements.