Senior ECAD Library Engineer

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

AV delivers battlefield-proven systems and next-generation capabilities across all domains of modern defense. The Senior ECAD Library Engineer ensures those systems are built on a component data foundation that is accurate, traceable, standardized, and supportable over its full lifecycle.

This role is the enterprise authority for electronic component library governance, digital representation, and data standardization across all AV sites and programs. It serves as the keeper of physical truth inside AV's digital thread, ensuring that what is designed, built, and sustained is based on known, governed, and trusted component data.

This role owns the enterprise component data model, its digital representations, and its governance. Part selection, qualification, and technical equivalency determination remain with Component Engineering; this position maintains the library and part records that reflect those decisions and supplies the where-used and usage data those decisions depend on.

Position Responsibilities

• Establish and govern (primary owner of) the enterprise electronic component library, ensuring all parts used across AV products are traceable, correctly represented, and consistently maintained. Create a single source of truth for component data.
• Work collaboratively with Program Chief Engineers and Design Engineers to intake new component requests, prioritize library work, and ensure library content supports program schedules and design needs.
• Serve as the enterprise Component Library SME, interfacing with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and external suppliers to ensure component data, artwork, and part records meet enterprise standards.
• Support multiple Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) across development, production, and sustainment by providing authoritative library data, part records, and reuse guidance.
• Lead enterprise component data standardization and harmonization across AV sites and product lines, driving consistent naming, classification, and reuse to reduce duplication and accelerate builds.
• Manage subsystem-level part records, footprints, and black box subsystem definitions to support reuse and accelerated builds.
• Conduct recurring, scheduled audits of the enterprise library for accuracy, parametric completeness, duplicate and conflicting records, and obsolete content; report findings and library health metrics to Engineering leadership and drive remediation to closure.
• Develop and deliver the enterprise training and enablement material for library standards and workflows, so that component data created by any engineer, technician, or supplier at any AV site meets enterprise requirements on first submission.

Component Artwork, Library & Process Governance

This role governs how electronic components are digitally represented across AV. The Senior ECAD Library Engineer will, in collaboration with Program Chief Engineers and Design Engineers:

• Create, review, approve, and govern schematic symbols, PCB footprints, decals, and 3D representations used in schematic capture, PCB layout, circuit card assembly, and mechanical packaging.
• Ensure all representations are parametrically correct, manufacturing-compliant, and configuration-controlled, verified against manufacturer datasheets and package drawings for body dimensions, land pattern geometry, courtyard, pin numbering, and polarity.
• Approve and release component artwork from engineers, library technicians, or external providers, ensuring assets are digitally linked to MPNs, internal part numbers, AMLs, and lifecycle/compliance data.
• Define and enforce enterprise standards and workflows for naming, classification, pin numbering, pad stacks, required parameter sets, data quality, and release control so component data created anywhere in AV meets enterprise-level consistency, manufacturability, traceability, and auditability.
• Ensure component artwork and library assets comply with applicable IPC specifications and AV manufacturing standards, supporting consistent, producible PCB and CCA designs. Land patterns are built to IPC-7351 for surface-mount and IPC-7251 for through-hole devices, with package geometry derived from JEDEC registered outlines (JEP95 / MO-series) or the manufacturer's recommended land pattern where no registered outline applies.
• Own the digital continuity of component data across the toolchain: define and maintain attribute mapping, database links, and synchronization between ECAD and PLM/ERP so that released library data, part records, and BOM lines remain consistent across systems.

Component Lifecycle, Obsolescence & Supply Risk

• Maintain current lifecycle status (active, NRND, end-of-life) on all governed components, flag affected library records, and provide where-used and usage data to Component Engineering and Supply Chain to support their impact assessment and mitigation decisions.
• Ingest PCN, EOL, and GIDEP notifications into the affected component records and notify the responsible Component Engineer, ensuring no notification lands without a governed record update.
• Maintain AML/AVL relationships and approved-alternate linkages in the library and part records, publishing alternates as approved by Component Engineering so that every governed component carries current, sourceable supply data.

Automation & Data Engineering

• Automate library governance at enterprise scale: build and maintain scripted validation, bulk data transformation, and migration tooling so that data quality is enforced by process rather than by inspection.
• Develop and maintain automated imports, exports, and synchronization between the component library, PLM/ERP, and parts-intelligence data sources, including scheduled data quality reporting on parametric completeness, duplication, reuse, and obsolescence exposure.
• Partner with Digital Engineering and IT on integration architecture, data mapping, and API-based workflows supporting the component data pipeline, defining the data requirements and integration behavior the CAD and PLM environments must deliver.

Compliance & High-Reliability Context

• Ensure library and part records support AV's quality management system obligations under AS9100 / ISO 9001, including traceability and objective evidence of review and release.
• Maintain materials and environmental compliance data on governed components, including RoHS and REACH status, conflict minerals, and IPC-1752A material declarations from suppliers.
• Maintain authorized-source and traceability attributes on component records in support of counterfeit and fraudulent parts avoidance per SAE AS5553.
• Ensure component records carry handling and process-critical attributes, including moisture sensitivity level per J-STD-020 / J-STD-033 and ESD sensitivity consistent with ANSI/ESD S20.20.
• Handle all component and design data in accordance with U.S. export control requirements (ITAR / EAR) and AV information protection policy.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor's degree required in Engineering, Science, or related STEM field, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in electronic component library management, CAD library/data administration, PCB design data management, or related electronics data governance role.
• Hands-on experience creating and managing schematic symbols, PCB footprints, and 3D component representations, verified against manufacturer documentation.
• Working knowledge of the IPC standards governing electronic component representation and assembly, specifically IPC-7351 and IPC-7251 land patterns, IPC-2612 / IPC-2611 schematic documentation, and JEDEC registered package outlines (JEP95 / MO-series).
• Hands-on experience using electrical CAD tools such as Altium Designer, Siemens Xpedition, or equivalent, for library/data creation and management.
• Demonstrated ability to automate library and part data work using scripting and query languages such as Python, SQL, PowerShell, or native ECAD scripting, including data validation, bulk transformation, and system-to-system synchronization.
• Experience working with a managed component library repository and a PLM system, and with the attribute mapping and database links that connect them.
• Experience using parts-intelligence and supplier data sources such as Accuris BOM/Part Intelligence, SiliconExpert, Z2Data, Octopart/Nexar, or distributor APIs for lifecycle, compliance, and sourcing data.
• Willingness to travel and ability to support multiple sites remotely.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industry experience preferred.
• Experience in an Altium 365 / Concord Pro, Xpedition EDM, or equivalent managed library environment, integrated with Oracle Fusion PLM, Arena, or comparable systems.
• Ability to work across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality on part data governance, library standards, and traceability processes.
• Experience establishing or governing enterprise engineering standards and libraries.
• Working knowledge of PCB design principles, including schematic capture, layout considerations, land patterns, stack-ups, and manufacturability constraints.
• Familiarity with neutral manufacturing data exchange formats (IPC-2581, ODB++) and with the data integrity requirements of fabrication and assembly outputs.
• Experience defining or applying an internal part numbering and component classification scheme, and participating in ECO / ECR change management for released component data.
• Ability to establish and document processes that allow this role to efficiently deliver parts to design and production teams. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, time management, and organizational skills.
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with office software and productivity tools, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Works well with little or no supervision and exercises independent judgment on a regular basis.
• Ability to gain cooperation of others, conducting presentations of technical information concerning specific projects or schedules.

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit, stand, stoop, reach, lift (up to 10 lbs.), bend, etc. Hand and wrist dexterity to utilize the computer.
• May require travel to sites/program and special functions.

Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance

• Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating.
• May have some exposure to outside environment while traveling.

Special Requirements

• U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or
• Must be able to travel within the Continental U.S. and internationally when required.

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$91,000 - $138,750

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

U.S. Citizenship required