Sr. Manager, Systems Engineering

Worker Type

Job Description

Summary

The Senior Manager Systems Engineering is a technical and people leader responsible for driving systems engineering execution across the full product lifecycle for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and related aerospace/defense platforms. This role owns Systems Engineering and Integration & Test (I&T) execution and is accountable for requirements management architecture and interface definition technical planning system integration verification and validation and customer-facing technical engagement. The position also supports airworthiness system safety and reliability objectives to ensure the product is technically sound testable and ready for fielding and production.

This leader is responsible for building and leading a high-performing functional organization with the technical depth and execution discipline to support development qualification production and sustainment in a competitive environment.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of systems engineering and integration/test professionals including staffing workload planning performance management mentoring and career development

• Own systems engineering execution from requirements development and decomposition through system integration verification validation and transition to production

• Own I&T planning and execution including integration readiness test planning procedure development test conduct data review issue resolution and reporting

• Manage requirements traceability allocation verification planning and technical baseline evolution throughout the system development lifecycle

• Lead development of system-level artifacts such as requirements interface definitions technical plans test plans procedures reports and customer-facing technical presentations

• Coordinate across software hardware manufacturing quality reliability safety flight test and program management teams to achieve cost schedule and technical objectives

• Support airworthiness system safety and reliability activities including field test safety hazard-related technical coordination and reliability growth / issue closure as applicable

• Provide clear and timely status of technical progress risks issues and mitigation plans to internal leadership and external customers

• Serve as a primary customer-facing technical representative for systems engineering matters including reviews status discussions technical issue resolution and execution alignment

• Support development planning and execution in coordination with program management including schedule resource and technical performance considerations

• Ensure adherence to company processes engineering discipline and operational policies while driving practical executable solutions

• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelors degree in Engineering (Systems Electrical Computer Aerospace Mechanical or related field) or equivalent combination of education training and experience

• 10 years of progressive systems engineering experience with at least 5 years of leadership or management experience

• Experience leading systems engineering activities across the product lifecycle including requirements management decomposition traceability integration and V&V

• Experience owning or leading Integration & Test execution for complex aerospace defense embedded or mission-critical systems

• Strong customer-facing skills including the ability to lead technical discussions present clearly to customers and leadership and resolve issues across organizational boundaries

• Experience developing systems test plans procedures reports and objective evidence packages

• Experience supporting system safety and field test safety activities

• Experience providing clear technical status risk and progress reporting to internal and external stakeholders

• Strong written and verbal communication skills including concise technical documentation and professional presentations

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive execution to program deadlines

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Masters degree in Systems Engineering Aerospace Engineering Electrical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Computer Engineering or related field

• Aerospace defense or UAS systems engineering experience strongly preferred

• Experience with EVMSor similar program execution frameworks including technical status integration with cost and schedule performance

• Experience with Agile SafeAgile or similar program execution frameworks including technical status integration with cost and schedule performance

• Background in embedded systemsdevelopment integration or test

• Experience with flight dynamics flight sciences flight controls integration instrumented flight test vectors or simulation/model development and analysis

• Experience supporting airworthiness certification-related activities or other regulated flight approval processes

• Experience supporting reliabilityactivities such as FRACAS root cause investigation corrective action tracking or reliability growth efforts

• Experience taking products from development or prototype phase into production

• Familiarity with mission systems payload systems imaging/sensing systems or related aerospace subsystems

• Ability to assess technical risk and opportunity establish mitigation strategies and drive closure across functional teams

• Demonstrated ability to build trust influence decisions and lead through change in a fast-paced environment

Physical Demands
Ability to work in an office and production 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)

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