Director of Engineering, Directed Energy Systems

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary
AV Directed Energy Systems is a defense technology innovator specializing in advanced high-energy laser and directed energy weapon systems for counter-UAS, force protection, and tactical engagement missions. We serve U.S. and allied military customers with high-reliability solutions that perform in mission-critical environments. Our growth requires disciplined leadership that balances technical excellence with operational maturity.

We are hiring a Director of Engineering to lead our growing multidisciplinary engineering team. This position blends strong people and organizational leadership (60%) with technical oversight and strategic input (40%), supporting complex defense programs and driving a culture of excellence. You will manage engineering staff, define and enforce policies and procedures, and ensure successful execution of Directed Energy-based product development and delivery.

Key Responsibilities:
Personnel & Organizational Leadership
• Lead and manage a team of 30+ engineers across systems, software, optical, mechanical, power, and control disciplines, including functional managers.
• Develop, implement, and maintain engineering policies, procedures, and standards to ensure repeatability, traceability, and compliance.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition and HR to manage staffing plans, hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, career development, and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of accountability, technical curiosity, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee resource allocation, workload balancing, and organizational structure to meet program and business needs.
• Lead internal reviews and support external audits, ensuring engineering compliance with ITAR, DoD cybersecurity, and quality standards (ISO, AS9100).
• Promote cross-functional collaboration with Program Management, Operations, and Business Development.
Technical Oversight & Strategy
• Provide high-level guidance on Directed Energy system architecture, laser subsystem integration, and power/thermal management, especially during proposal and concept phases.
• Participate in technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR), design decisions, and risk assessments to ensure design integrity and alignment with requirements.
• Serve as a technical advisor for complex engineering challenges, trade studies, and roadmap planning.
• Drive adoption of formal systems engineering practices, model-based design, and design-for-manufacturing principles.
• Ensure all development activities meet program milestones, cost targets, and quality objectives.

Required Qualifications
• U.S. Citizenship and active DoD Secret Security Clearance.
• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline; M.S. or MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of engineering experience with at least 5 years in management roles within the defense or aerospace industry.
• Demonstrated leadership of multi-disciplinary teams developing complex hardware/software systems.
• Strong understanding of engineering lifecycle management, technical reviews, and process compliance in a defense environment.
• Ability to balance operational priorities with long-term technical vision.

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with high-energy laser systems, beam control, power electronics, thermal management, or optical subsystems.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-810, DO-254, or similar defense compliance frameworks.
• Knowledge of engineering tools and environments such as MATLAB, Zemax, SolidWorks, and Agile development methods.
• Experience working with classified development or secure program environments.

Clearance Level

Secret

The salary range for this role is:

$148,000 - $237,000

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:

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.

ITAR