Chief Engineer, Systems

Worker Type

Job Description

Summary

The Chief Engineer Systems provides technical leadership and oversight for engineering activities on assigned programs ensuring technical integrity systems integration and delivery of compliant solutions. The Chief Engineer Systems serves as the primary technical authority for a program and is the interface between engineering program management and the this role you will oversee a portfolio of engineering projects and work with a talented group of engineers to drive those projects to completion. This role will operate as part of the design and development team and will report directly to the MUAS Business Unit Chief Engineer.

Position Responsibilities

Technical Leadership:

• Establish and maintain overall system architecture ensuring alignment with customer requirements and program constraints
• Lead technical decision-making across all engineering disciplines (mechanical electrical software systems)
• Lead engineering review boards (SRR PDR CDR TRR) and technical risk review meetings
• Resolve cross-functional technical issues and trade-offs
• Mentor and develop engineering team members across disciplines

Systems Engineering & Integration

• Oversee requirements flow-down allocation and traceability from system to subsystem level
• Ensure proper interface control between subsystems and with external systems
• Direct system integration activities and resolve integration issues
• Maintain technical baseline and configuration control
• Lead technical interchange meetings (TIMs) with customer and subcontractors

Technical Planning & Execution

• Support development of integrated master schedule for engineering deliverables
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies
• Allocate technical resources and guide work prioritization
• Ensure engineering work packages are properly scoped estimated and tracked
• Drive make/buy decisions and technical evaluation of suppliers

Verification & Validation

• Establish verification and validation approach for system and subsystem requirements
• Oversee development of test plans procedures and acceptance criteria
• Review test results and approve closure of verification activities
• Support qualification testing flight testing and operational demonstrations
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action for technical issues

Customer & Stakeholder Interface

• Serve as primary technical point of contact with customer engineering team
• Present technical approach status and risk at program reviews
• Support proposal development with technical solutions and cost estimates
• Negotiate technical requirements and acceptance criteria with customer
• Coordinate with subcontractor chief engineers on integrated solutions

Standards & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with applicable military standards (MIL-STDs) industry standards and contractual requirements
• Drive best practices in systems engineering processes (EIA-632 ISO 15288 etc.)
• Maintain technical quality and engineering rigor across all deliverables
• Ensure proper documentation per contract data requirements list (CDRL)

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelors 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 project planning in terms of schedule budget and resource estimations.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Masters 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)

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 candidates 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 AeroVironments determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironments 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: also encourage you to review our company website at to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

About AV:

AV isnt for everyone. We hire the curious the relentless the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We dont just build defense technologywe redefine whats 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 Smithsonianbut were not building history were building whats next.

If youre ready to build technology that matterswith speed scale and purposetheres 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 datasexual orientation gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR