{"id":2482533,"url":"https://alion.io/job/aerovironment-principal-mechanical-engineer","title":"Principal Mechanical 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":78,"open_postings":29,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.897,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":34,"computed_at":"2026-10-23T05:54:15Z"}},"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":["Princeton, United States","Huntsville, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":147000,"max":224250,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":224250},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":12,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"ANSYS","optional":false},{"name":"DO-160","optional":false},{"name":"MIL-STD-810","optional":false},{"name":"SolidWorks","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-13T23:17:05Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-13","last_verified_at":"2026-10-22T05:54:33Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":9,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":9},"description":"Worker Type\nRegularJob Description\nSummary\nThe Principal Mechanical Engineer applies engineering techniques to design, install, modify, analyze, repair and test tools, engines, machines and other mechanically functioning equipment. In this role, The Sr. Staff Mechanical Engineer leads in the mechanical design, testing, and production of electrical machines as well as the design of electronics packaging for high altitude aerospace applications. One leads the mechanical packaging development effort for electronic equipment that withstand stringent environmental requirements (i.e., mass, volume, thermal, vibration). Manages mid-size development projects outsourced to sub-contractors (development of a system, equipment or components).\nPosition Responsibilities\nLeads or supports the thermal, structural, dynamic, and fluid flow analysis efforts for electronics equipment\nLeads the testing and data collection in the laboratory and the field\nModels the mechanical devices and selects the proper material\nPerforms stress and fatigue analysis; Performs thermal analysis and selects bonding material\nDevelops mechanical drawings and specifies the dimensional tolerances\nDevelops and implements assembly instructions and test procedures\nDevelops and implements test plans and test procedures to verify designs\nWorks on significant and unique issues where analysis of situations or data requires an evaluation of intangibles. Exercises independent judgment in methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results\nActs independently to determine methods and procedures on new or special assignments. May supervise the activities of others.\nOther duties as assigned\nBasic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)\nBachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience\nMinimum 12 - 15 years of relevant technical experience in Mechanical Engineering, of which a minimum of 7 years in developing for production rotating electrical machines, electronics equipment packaging solution, and/or mechanical devices solutions for industrial and aerospace applications\nExperience developing requirements specification for mechanical subsystems and according to MIL-STD 961D standard or equivalent\nHas sufficient proficiency with the following CAD /CAE tools to perform one's position responsibilities:SolidWorks for mechanical modeling.\nANSYS for structural and fatigue analysis\nANSYS Icepack for thermal analysis.\n\nExtensive experience with Solid Works\nExtensive experience with designing electrical rotating machines for high-performance applications\nExtensive experience with thermal management tradeoffs and solutions as well as materials properties\nExperienced with bonding techniques for extreme environmental conditions using different adhesives\nExperienced with manufacturing methodologies of electrical machines and with creating and maintaining product document tree\nExperience with creating and maintaining products bill of materials (BOM)\nExperience with test and measurement techniques, such as torque transducer calibration and instrumentation.\nOther Qualifications & Desired Competencies\nMS in Mechanical Engineering is preferred\nRecognition by a reputable international engineering society such as ASME at the senior membership level or higher is preferred\nDemonstrated familiarity with MIL-STD-810 or DO-160 and familiarity with MIL-STD 961D standards (or equivalent) for developing subsystem technical specifications\nDemonstrated full understanding & knowledge of engineering principles in the technical discipline. Demonstrates ability to work independently\nEffectively articulates concepts and ideas to both technical and non-technical staff\nAble to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties\nDisplays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives\nTakes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products\nIs committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company\nHas effective problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills (Verbal and written).\nFocuses on teamwork, collaboration and puts the success of the team above one's own interests\nPhysical Demands\nAbility to work in an office and production environment (Constant)\nRequired to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)\nSpecial Requirements\nU.S. Citizenship required. Presently holds or capable of obtaining a U.S. Security Clearance\nOccasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S.\nClearance Level\nNo ClearanceThe salary range for this role is:\n$147,000 - $224,250AeroVironment 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":7770,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":12,"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":["Drones & UAVs","Military Drones","Defense Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-13T23:17:05Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":63,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.632,"p_room":1,"age_days":9,"expected_fill_days":34,"reasons":["conf:23","stale_co","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-23T05:54:15Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":224250,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/aerovironment-principal-mechanical-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/aerovironment-principal-mechanical-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-23T21:55:47Z","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":4359,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-24T00:00:00Z"}},"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-principal-mechanical-engineer"},{"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-principal-mechanical-engineer"},{"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-principal-mechanical-engineer"},{"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-principal-mechanical-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Faerovironment-principal-mechanical-engineer"}]}