Manufacturing Engineer III

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

 

Summary

The Manufacturing Engineering Technician III role at AeroVironment involves a blend of responsibilities across manufacturing engineering, engineering development, new product introduction (NPI), and tooling design. The successful candidate will be hands-on in the early stages of building new engineering product prototypes, as well as Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) builds. This individual support Design for Excellence (DFX), and design and implement tooling and fixtures with the aid of drafting resources. They will ensure that learnings from early product builds are integrated into a production-ready package. This role supports the key step in transitioning new product introductions into mature full-rate production stages. Additionally, the candidate must possess excellent collaboration skills to ensure continuous feedback with various engineering teams and production staff.

Position Responsibilities

• Hands-on building and assembly of early units of new products with engineering support.
• Conduct mechanical, electrical, and composite fabrication, troubleshooting, repair, and testing of integrated systems.
• Ensure a smooth transition from product development to manufacturing, focusing on quality, reliability and cost
• Work effectively with engineering teams and production staff to provide and receive continuous, regular feedback.
• Provide rapid prototyping fabrication and assembly services to build prototype product hardware.
• Design, develop, and implement tooling, including assembly fixtures, fabrication fixtures, and molds.
• Support  DFX, cost, and reliability analysis initiatives in collaboration with design engineering teams.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing processes, including creating and updating work instructions, assembly procedures, and supporting documentation.
• Lead efforts in lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodology to achieve continuous improvement in productivity, quality, and lead times.
• Incorporate lessons learned from NPI and early product builds into efficient production processes.
• Implement ergonomic design considerations to ensure safe, effective, and productive tool usage.
• Maintain shop equipment and tools in a safe, clean, and organized environment for development and production activities.
• Track and report Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including build linearity and transition rates from NPI to full production.
• Work on problems of diverse scope requiring analysis of identifiable factors.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• High School diploma or GED equivalent and/or equivalent certificate from a technical school
• 4-6 years of experience in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, or Test Engineering, with experience in Aerospace, Automotive, or Commercial industries.
• Experience in Lean Manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodology.
• Proficiency with electro-mechanical manufacturing and procedures
• Exposure to  engineering drawings and Bill of Materials.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and CAD software (SolidWorks preferred).
• Occasional travel required (up to 10%).

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Experience in sheet metal fabrication, plastics, composite layups, PCB assembly, mechanical assembly, calibration, and testing processes.
• Strong problem-solving ability, root cause analysis skills, and ability to work independently.
• High levels of initiative, ownership, and responsibility for work products.
• Commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
• Effective time management, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Teamwork and collaboration-oriented mindset.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.
• Required to sit and stand for long periods, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard.
• Capable of lifting up to 50 pounds and handling varying sizes and shapes of parts.
• Compliance with safety standards and guidelines.

Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance:

• Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating.

Training Travel Requirement:

• This role requires weekly travel from Salt Lake City, UT to Simi Valley, CA for training for the first three months of employment. Training occurs Monday through Friday, three weeks per month. Travel, lodging, meals, and ground transportation will be provided. After the training period, the position is based in Salt Lake City, UT.

Clearance Level

 

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$62,963 - $89,250

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.

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.

 

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