Principal Digital Engineering Systems Architect

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

 

AV is seeking a Principal Digital Engineering Systems Architect to guide and execute Digital Engineering strategy for the Kinetic Interceptors team across a portfolio of advanced missile programs. This senior technical leadership role focuses on the development and integration of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) practices, toolsets, and architectures to support end-to-end product development, analysis, and testing in a Digital Engineering environment.
 

Key Responsibilities:
  

• Define and lead the Digital Engineering vision, strategy, and roadmap aligned with program and customer goals.

• Ensure technical integrity and execution across multi-disciplinary teams, driving solutions that meet or exceed cost, schedule, and performance requirements.

• Serve as the primary technical interface to senior DoD customers, program leadership, subcontractors, and partners.

• Architect and implement engineering ontologies, modeling patterns, and integration strategies across tools and platforms.

• Design and manage system architecture models supporting full lifecycle development --from concept to production.

• Lead a team of systems engineers in implementing MBSE best practices and advancing AV's Digital Engineering capabilities.

• Develop custom scripts and integrations to optimize workflows and model validations across tools.

• Support and maintain existing Digital Engineering tool customizations, triage technical issues, and implement corrective actions.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to assess business needs and translate them into scalable engineering solutions.

• Generate clear technical specifications and documentation.

• Mentor junior engineers and help build technical depth across the organization.
   
  Basic Qualifications:

  • B.S. in an engineering discipline with 12+ years of experience, M.S. with 10+ years, or Ph.D. with 8+ years.

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience developing and leading Digital Engineering environments in support of weapon systems.

  • An active Secret level security clearance.

  • Strong background in system architecture design, systems engineering, integration, and testing.

  • Demonstrated leadership in multi-disciplinary teams and experience managing technical execution across complex programs.

  • Direct experience working with DoD customers and defense industry partners.

  • Proven ability to manage multi-million-dollar engineering budgets and resources.

  • Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.

  • Experience with engineering Risk and Opportunity (R&O) management.

  • Willingness to travel occasionally to customer or test sites.

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. with 13+ years or Ph.D. with 11+ years of relevant experience.

• 10+ years of experience leading Digital Engineering efforts for complex defense systems.

• Hands-on experience with MBSE tools (e.g., Cameo, Rhapsody, Enterprise Architect) and data exchange mechanisms.

• Experience with ontology design, system modeling languages (e.g., SysML), and custom tool integrations.

• Prior involvement in strategic planning, business development, or capture efforts in the defense industry.

Salary Range: $133,500 - $180,250

The AV pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Determination of official compensation or salary relies on several factors, including but not limited to, level of position, job responsibilities, geographic location, scope of relevant work experience, educational background, certifications, contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, alignment with local internal equity, as well as alignment with market data.

Our compensation package also includes components designed to support employees' total well-being, which should be considered when evaluating our competitive benefits package. These benefits include health insurance, life insurance, disability, company holiday and paid time off, parental leave, 401(k) company match and contributions, professional development/training reimbursements, and other work/life programs.

Clearance Level

 

Secret

The salary range for this role is:

$133,500 - $189,525

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