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Simi Valley, California, United States
Onsite
Worker Type
Regular
Job Description
Summary
The Sr. Staff Systems Engineer is responsible for leading system integration, verification, validation, and technical execution activities across unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) programs. This role serves as the technical integrator across software, hardware, autonomy, payload, communication, navigation, and ground control systems to ensure successful delivery of operational capabilities.
The position is responsible for driving programs from requirements definition through system integration, flight test, verification, validation, and customer acceptance. The ideal candidate possesses strong systems engineering fundamentals combined with demonstrated experience leading complex integration and test efforts in aerospace, defense, or mission-critical systems.
Position Responsibilities
Lead system integration activities across aircraft, payload, mission systems, communications, autonomy, navigation, and ground control systems.
Develop and execute system integration plans, integration readiness criteria, and technical maturation strategies.
Coordinate cross-functional engineering teams to resolve system-level issues, interface incompatibilities, and integration risks.
Drive technical execution to ensure capabilities mature from development through customer delivery and operational deployment.
Lead verification and validation activities across laboratory, SIL, HIL, ground, and flight test environments.
Develop test strategies, success criteria, and verification approaches supporting customer and regulatory requirements.
Support Test Readiness Reviews (TRR), Verification Readiness Reviews (VRR), Flight Readiness Reviews (FRR), and customer acceptance events.
Analyze test data, identify root causes, and drive corrective actions to closure.
Support flight test planning, execution, troubleshooting, and post-flight analysis.
Evaluate flight test results and provide recommendations for system improvements and risk reduction.
Coordinate with pilots, operators, software developers, and specialty engineering teams during flight test activities.
Support technical baseline management, software release planning, and configuration control activities.
Assess engineering changes for technical impact, regression risk, and verification requirements.
Ensure system-level regression testing is performed following significant hardware or software changes.
Lead cross-functional root cause investigations and corrective action implementation.
Identify, communicate, and mitigate technical risks affecting integration, verification, and program execution.
Drive technical issue closure using data-driven decision making and disciplined engineering processes.
Must have experience presenting at technical reviews such as SRR, PDR, CDR, and similar milestones.
Must be willing to travel.
Other duties as assigned
Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Systems, Electrical, Computer, Aerospace, Mechanical, or related field) or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
8 years of progressive systems engineering experience, with at least 5 years of leadership or management experience
Experience leading systems engineering activities across the product lifecycle, including requirements management, decomposition, traceability, integration, and V&V
Experience owning or leading Integration & Test execution for complex aerospace, defense, embedded, or mission-critical systems
Strong customer-facing skills, including the ability to lead technical discussions, present clearly to customers and leadership, and resolve issues across organizational boundaries
Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies
Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
Experience leading complex system integration and test efforts for aerospace, defense, robotics, autonomous systems, or mission-critical products.
Experience transitioning systems from development through integration, verification, validation, production, and customer acceptance.
Experience supporting SIL, HIL, ground test, and flight test activities.
Experience with technical baseline management, software release processes, configuration control boards, and regression verification.
Experience troubleshooting multi-disciplinary system issues involving software, hardware, communications, networking, autonomy, navigation, and payload systems.
Aerospace, defense, or UAS systems engineering experience strongly preferred
Experience with Agile, SafeAgile or similar program execution frameworks, including technical status integration with cost and schedule performance
Experience supporting system safety and field test safety activities
Experience providing clear technical status, risk, and progress reporting to internal and external stakeholders
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including concise technical documentation and professional presentations
Experience supporting airworthiness, certification-related activities, or other regulated flight approval processes
Experience supporting reliability activities such as FRACAS, root cause investigation, corrective action tracking, or reliability growth efforts
Familiarity with mission systems, payload systems, imaging/sensing systems, or related aerospace subsystems
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
Must be able to travel within the Continental U.S. and internationally when required.
Clearance Level
The salary range for this role is:
$170,000 - $272,000AeroVironment 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. Must be willing to work on government contracts and have the ability to obtain a security clearance.