Chief Engineer, Systems

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

The Chief Engineer, Systems you will act as a technical liaison between the Engineering, Program Management, Operations, and Supply Chain departments to ensure our solutions to customer requirements are optimized, technically feasible, and achievable in terms of cost and schedule. In 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 led by our Director of Engineering.

Position Responsibilities

• Evaluates customer-provided requirements and identifies platform impacts, cost, schedule, and technical performance risks and communicates those to key stakeholders.
• Contributes to the development of new product requirements through consultations with Program Managers and end customers.
• Assists in the review and analysis of proposals, specifications, and Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Assists in defining system requirements and in the generation of specifications for products or sub-systems.
• Provide critical input to the preparation of successful proposal designs, cost estimates, and technical responses with regards to resources (personnel, equipment, etc.).
• Ensures that integration efforts will satisfy all performance requirements, achieve delivery schedule, stay within budget, and meet cost targets.
• Reviews Engineering Change Proposals (ECP), Requests for Deviation (RFD), and maintains system configuration baselines.
• Mentors and guides engineering personnel to improve technical and leadership skills
• Works with applicable Program Manager and customer leads to facilitate the resolution of technical issues.
• Creates necessary documentation, such as requirements documentation, high-level design specifications and test plans.
• Develops and present materials for project related briefings including design reviews to be given to internal and external customers.
• Acts as a resource for the development and review of specifications, CDRL’s and ICD’s.
• Partners with senior leadership, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and other groups in setting priorities, establishing strategic plans, and addressing issues that cross departmental boundaries.
• Exercises wide latitude in determining objectives and approaches to critical assignments.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor's 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

• Master’s 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)
• Proven success collaborating with Engineering disciplines (Electrical, Software, Mechanical, and System Engineers) to define system architecture and integration details.
• Possesses an interest in creating Architectures using Model Based Engineering tools
• Strong troubleshooting skills and ability to resolve technical issues efficiently and independently, utilizing subject matter experts when needed.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and schematics, parts lists, specifications, instructions, and test procedures
• Ability to effectively communicate with and present to various levels internal to the organization and externally to customers and suppliers.
• Is a proven leader who has demonstrated people development skills
• Direct technical expertise in any of the following areas:Avionics, sensors, and RF-based data links.Radio frequency spectrum and modern communication systems.SIGINT technologies and sensors, including EO/IR optics.GPS navigation systems including DGPS, SAASM and M-Code.Aviation propulsion systems, including internal combustion and electric motors.OCONUS military operations.

Physical Demands

• Ability to walk around the facility on a regular basis to facilitate communication, coordinate tasks and resolve issues.
• Travel required to domestic US sites – up to 25%.
• Ability to work in an office and manufacturing 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)

The salary range for this role is:

$176,000 - $249,480

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.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship is required. Secret or Top Secret clearance, or the ability obtain a clearance is desired.