{"id":3310633,"url":"https://alion.io/job/aerovironment-lead-systems-engineer-3","title":"Lead Systems Engineer","company":{"id":176366,"name":"AeroVironment","domain":"avinc.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/aerovironment","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":83,"open_postings":26,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.692,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":36,"computed_at":"2026-10-30T05:48:23Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Germantown, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":128000,"max":195250,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":195250},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"FMEA","optional":false},{"name":"IBM DOORS","optional":false},{"name":"Verification & Validation","optional":false},{"name":"Cameo Systems Modeler","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-31T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-31","last_verified_at":"2026-10-30T05:39:36Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":60,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":60},"description":"Worker Type\nRegularJob Description\nPosition Summary\nThe Lead Systems Engineeris responsible forleadingrequirements management, architecture definition, interface control, and verification planning for complex, multi-disciplinary systems.Theywill collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, software, and test teams to integrate subsystems into mission-capable solutions, manage technical risks, and ensure our systems meet customer performance, schedule, and costobjectives.\nKey Responsibilities\nSystem Architecture & Design\nDevelop, decompose, and manage system and subsystem requirements from customer needs through verification and validation\n\nEstablish andmaintainbidirectional traceability between requirements, design elements, and verification methods using requirements management tools\n\nDefine and document system and subsystem interfaces (mechanical, electrical, optical, RF, data) through Interface Control Documents (ICDs)\n\nDevelop system architectures, functional flows, and physical decompositions for electromechanical, opto-mechanical, and RF systems\n\nConduct trade studies and technical analyses to support design decisions andoptimizesystem performance against cost, schedule, and performance constraints\n\nCreate verification matrices and test plans that map requirements to appropriate verification methods (test, analysis, inspection, demonstration)\n\nDevelop integration strategies and support integration activities for multi-disciplinary systems across subsystems and suppliers\n\nSupport system-level testing, verification events, and validation activities to ensure requirements are met\n\nCollaborate daily with mechanical, electrical, software, optical, and RF engineers to resolve technical issues and ensure system-level integration\n\nIdentify, assess, and track technical risks; develop mitigation plans in collaboration with engineering teams\n\nPrepare technical specifications, reports, design documentation, and presentations for internal teams and customers\n\nAssess impact of requirements changes and support change control processes tomaintaintechnical and programmatic integrity\n\nContribute to continuous improvement of systems engineering processes, tools, templates, and best practices\n\nTechnical Leadership & Coordination\nServe as the technical lead across cross-functional teams (e.g., electrical, mechanical, software, RF, test, manufacturing, quality).\n\nLeadcustomer andtechnical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.), ensuring design maturity and risk mitigation.\n\nProvide technical guidance to systems engineers and contributing engineers and review technical work products for quality, completeness, and alignment with system requirements.\n\nAct as the primary technical point of contact for internal stakeholders, customers, and suppliers.\n\nRepresent technical status and risk to internal leadership/stakeholders during reviews such as PMRs.\n\nRequirements & Configuration Management\nLead requirements capture, analysis, allocation, and traceability usingappropriate tools(e.g., DOORS, Jama, etc.).\n\nManage configuration baselines and ensure changes are controlled, documented, and communicated.\n\nEnsure compliance with relevant standards, regulations, and customer specifications.\n\nIntegration, Verification & Validation (IV&V)\nDefine system integration strategy and test approach across lab, field, and production environments.\n\nDevelop and/or oversee test plans, procedures, and reports for system-level verification and validation.\n\nLead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for integration and test issues, collaborating with design teams.\n\nRisk, Quality & Lifecycle Management\nIdentifytechnical risks and opportunities; develop andmaintainmitigation/contingency plans.\n\nSupport reliability, safety, and FMEA/FMECA analyses asrequired.\n\nContribute to lifecycle planning, including production transition, sustainment, and end-of-life strategies.\n\nProject Support & Communication\nWork closely with Program/Project Management to align technical scope, schedule, and budget.\n\nProvide technical input to proposals, estimates, and customer presentations.\n\nPrepare and deliver clear technical documentation, design reports, and briefings to both technical and non-technical audiences.\n\nMentoring & Process Improvement\nMentor junior engineers in systems engineering principles, tools, and best practices.\n\nChampion and help refine systems engineering processes, methods, and tools to improve efficiency and product quality.\n\nQualifications\nEducation & Experience\nBachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fieldrequired;Master’sdegree preferred.\n\nTypically8+ years of relevant engineering experience, including significant systems engineering responsibility.\n\n2+ years in a technical lead, team lead, or equivalent role preferred.\n\nTechnical Skills\nStrong understanding of systems engineering lifecycle (concept, requirements, design, integration, verification, validation, deployment, sustainment).\n\nDemonstrated experience integrating hardware and software subsystems into a cohesive solution.\n\nProficiencyin system-level analysis (e.g., performance budgets, interface control, trade studies).\n\nFamiliarity with configuration management and version control practices.\n\nSoft Skills\nProven leadership and mentoring abilities in a multi-disciplinary engineering environment.\n\nExcellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to simplify complex technical topics.\n\nStrong problem-solving skills and the ability to make sound technical decisions under schedule and resource constraints.\n\nAbility to work effectively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.\n\nPreferred Qualifications (Customize as Needed)\nExperience with requirements management and systems modeling tools (e.g., DOORS, Jama, Cameo/MagicDraw, Enterprise Architect).\n\nExperience in aerospace/defense, unmanned systems,or large technical multidiscipline program of comparable complexity.\n\nExperience with safety-critical or mission-critical systems.\n\nPhysical & Other Requirements\nOccasionaltravel tocustomer,supplier, or test sites.\n\nRobotics & Autonomy Solutions (RAS)\n\nTypically8+ years of relevant engineering experience, withdemonstratedexperience leading complex systems engineering activities, multidisciplinary technical teams, or major system/subsystem efforts. Candidates with 10-15 years of relevant experience are strongly preferred.e for largesubsystem.\n\nClearance Level\nNo ClearanceThe salary range for this role is:\n$128,000 - $195,250AeroVironment 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.\nITAR Requirement:\nThis 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.\nBenefits: 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.\nWe also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.\nPrincipals only need apply. NO agencies please.\nAbout AV:\nAV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.\nWe 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.\nFounded 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.\nIf you're ready to build technology that matters-with speed, scale, and purpose-there’s no better place to do it than AV.\nWe 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.\nITAR\nU.S. Citizenship required","description_format":"text","description_chars":9544,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["401k plan"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Military","Drones & UAVs","Military Drones","Defense Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-27T03:11:02Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":19,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.516,"p_room":0.36,"age_days":60,"expected_fill_days":36,"reasons":["conf:0","stale_co","velocity","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-30T05:48:23Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":195250,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/aerovironment-lead-systems-engineer-3","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/aerovironment-lead-systems-engineer-3.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-30T06:58:52Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":9889,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-31T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":176366},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=176366"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Faerovironment-lead-systems-engineer-3"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Faerovironment-lead-systems-engineer-3"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Faerovironment-lead-systems-engineer-3"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/aerovironment-lead-systems-engineer-3\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Faerovironment-lead-systems-engineer-3"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3310633}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"avinc.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3310633},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. Docs: https://alion.io/developers"}}