The Sr. Manager, Mechanical & Systems Engineering is an experienced individual within the aerospace, technology, or related industry with extensive knowledge performing ones function, focused on the development of the next generation UAV systems and their subsystems. As a member of the Engineering management team, this position is responsible for executing the strategic technology roadmap that will drive the business growth in a very competitive spanet space. This will include all levels and facets of design from requirements generation, conceptual design, and detailed design and will include building and testing of these systems. This position is responsible for building a functional organization that has the capabilities and capacities to meet the business needs.

Position Responsibilities

• Manages a group of mechanical, aerospace, and systems engineering professionals, including budget planning, staffing, training, performance evaluation, and career development.
• Provides support and mentorship to engineers across a wide portfolio of development projects.
• Manages the design and development of new Unmanned Aircraft System products as well as product changes and enhancements
• Directly supports the development of active projects as well as generation of concepts and material for emerging opportunities including proposals for new projects.
• Responsible for managing resources to meet project demands by planning workload for aeromechanical design activities
• Provides technical expertise and guidance to team to meet guidelines for DfX (manufacturing, cost, reliability, maintenance, etc.)
• Maintains a high level of customer satisfaction with both internal and external customers
• Utilizes modeling-based systems engineering and design practices
• Serves as connection point between design, manufacturing, and quality engineering team
• Frequently interacts with customers and/or functional peer group managers, normally involving matters between functional areas
• Assists with communicating business priorities as it relates to team’s area of responsibilities in order to help facilitate a clear vision of priorities and risks.
• Establishes and assures adherence to budgets, schedules, and work plans

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelors degree in Engineering is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Minimum of 12 years experience in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Systems field, of which a minimum of 5 years designing, analyzing, and maintaining complex mechanical systems with demonstrated transition to deployment of hardware
• Minimum of 5 years in a managerial/supervisory role
• Experienced and knowledgeable of aerospace mechanical systems specially aerostructures, flight control systems, propulsion systems, and composite materials
• Experienced with CAD software for 3D models and 2D drawings (SolidWorks preferred)
• Experienced with configuration management in a PLM-based system (Agile preferred)
• Experienced with requirements development and management (JAMA preferred)
• Has developed systems test plans, procedures, and reports against internal and customer requirements and specifications in an Aerospace and Defense environment
• Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and success to deliver products that meet requirements on time and on budget.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Masters degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Systems Engineering is preferred
• Demonstrated success with DoD acquisition or development programs
• Demonstrates competency in converting a developed concept into a high-quality, manufacturable design
• Demonstrates competency in implementing Agile methods and tools (JIRA) to plan, track progress and remain on schedule and proposes strategies for further efficiency
• Skilled at anticipating problems and develops sound solutions through implementation of action plans to ensure success
• Drives for results, action oriented. Displays organizational and leadership skills
• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances
• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees
• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change
• Assesses the degree of risk and opportunity in plans or actions and takes appropriate action to mitigate them or makes plans to build on the opportunity
• Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills
• Willingness and Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance/US citizenship preferred

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office and production environment (Constant)
• Ability to support field testing and integration assignments. (Infrequently)
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Special Requirements:

• U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) required, per ITAR definition
• Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S.

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.

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 youre 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