As the Manager of Systems Test Engineering within the Loitering Munition Systems (LMS) Business Unit, you will lead a high-performing team of up to 15 engineers across all career levels, guiding their professional growth, mentoring their development, and ensuring the successful execution of developmental and operational testing for LMS products. This role requires a forward-thinking leader who can delegate and oversee complex business operations, drive continuous process improvements, and ensure compliance with company policies and procedures. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to review and approve critical documentation, including test plans, flight readiness reviews, and system requirement documents, while also coordinating with external test facilities as needed. Ideal candidates will have strong analytical and leadership skills, successfully balance technical expertise with people management, and inspire teams toward delivering exceptional results in a fast-paced environment. A capacity for strategic thinking, a commitment to teamwork, and the ability to adapt quickly to change are essential. 

Position Responsibilities

• Continuously drive process improvement and process automation
• Delegating responsibilities and supervising business operations
• Hiring, training, motivating and coaching employees as they provide attentive, efficient service to customers, assessing employee performance and providing helpful feedback and training opportunities.
• Resolving conflicts or complaints from customers and employees.
• Analyzing information and processes and developing more effective or efficient processes and strategies.
• Generating reports and presenting information to upper-level managers or other parties.
• Ensuring staff members follow company policies and procedures.
• Manager of up to 15 Systems Test Engineers ranging from Intern to Principle Engineers within the Loitering Munition/Missile Systems (LMS) Business Unit.
• Responsible for development, mentorship, and growth of the entire team, while also filling in when needed.
• Lead developmental tests and evaluations of all LMS Products
• Review and approve all subsystem, system and flight test objectives.
• Review and approve all System Requirement Documents (SRDs) in the Oracle Fusion and Agile systems
• Review and approve all test and flight readiness reviews, test briefs, and post-test debriefs
• Lead Mission Dress Rehearsals (MDRs) that ensure test assets are prepared to support testing,
• Train others on how to process and analyze test data to determine test results using MatLab and Excel
• Develop, Review, and approve System Test Plans, for all LMS Products
• Provide Program Managers Basis of Estimates (BoEs) for time required to conduct testing and completing tasks
• Coordinate with Outside and 3rd Party Test Houses to conduct Environmental Tests
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree is required (discipline/preferred discipline Engineering Disciplines including Systems, Mechanical, Software, Electrical.) or in a related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Advanced degree, MBA or MS is preferred.
• Certifications; Courses
  •  PMP Cert, a Part 107 FAA UAS Pilot Cert, Ability to get a Security Clearance, and Explosives/HAZMAT Training/Experience is Preferred
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience required.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a leadership role.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Work closely with government counterparts to plan and execute system verification test events (both government lead and internally lead)
• Work closely with the Systems Engineering team to conduct and document system verification and validation campaigns
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical, critical thinking and interpersonal skills, with the ability to speak and write persuasively
• Experience working with cross-functional teams; ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships
• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances
• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees
• Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness, and the creation of a shared vision
• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change
• Takes ownership and responsibility for assigned tasks
• Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company
• Focuses on teamwork and puts the success of the team above ones own interests

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit, stand, stoop, reach, lift (up to 50 lbs.), bend, etc.  Hand and wrist dexterity to utilize the computer.
• May require travel to sites/program and special functions. Up to 25

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. Citizenship required
• Ability to obtain DOD-Secret security clearance
• Must be able to travel within the Continental U.S. and internationally when required.

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 candidate’s 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 AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s 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:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

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.

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 data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship required