Deputy Chief Engineer - Space RF Systems

AeroVironment • Albuquerque, NM

2d

About The Position

At AV, our Space RF Systems Division develops next-generation technologies that support missions of national importance. We are seeking a Deputy Chief Engineer (Deputy CE) to join our senior technical leadership team. Reporting directly to the Division Chief Engineer, you’ll play a pivotal role in driving technical execution excellence across high-visibility defense programs. This role is ideal for an accomplished engineering leader who thrives at the intersection of systems engineering rigor, innovation, and mission delivery. You’ll guide multidisciplinary teams from concept through deployment, ensuring technical integrity while balancing performance, cost, and schedule. The SRFS Deputy Chief Engineer will serve as a senior member of the technical staff responsible for establishing and maintaining technical execution excellence for the Space RF Systems Division. Reporting to the Division Chief Engineer, the Deputy CE should be a self-starter, motivated, and qualified candidate who has relevant experience leading technical execution of complex defense programs that have a national importance. While the Deputy CE will have visibility across the SRFS division, their primary responsibility will be for technical execution on the program(s) within the portfolio to which they are assigned.

Requirements

• BS degree in an engineering field
• 10+ years relevant experience within an engineering field
• 5+ years of engineering team leadership experience
• Able to obtain and maintain a US Department of Defense Security Clearance
• Strong Leadership
• Broad Systems Engineering
• Strong Attention to Detail
• Structured Problem Solving
• Critical and Thinking
• Organizational Skills
• Self-Starter
• Strong Communication Skills
• Time Management
• Commitment
• Demonstrated Team Player

Nice To Haves

• MS degree in an engineering field
• Excellent communication skills including speaking, writing, and listening, such that ideas and information are clearly conveyed, and meaning is obtained
• Experience evaluating performance on current and previous awards regarding engineering, research and development, subcontracts, costs, and profit
• Experience with US Department of Defense
• Current, active US Department of Defense Security Clearance

Responsibilities

• Oversees and drives the daily technical execution and team tasking of the cradle-to-grave engineering to assure quality, safety, and engineering soundness & rigor that balances with the cost, schedule and requirements goals outlined in the contracts.
• Controls the technical baseline of the program(s) to which they are assigned.
• Ensures developmental programs employ tailored levels of process and paperwork, but not at the expense of creative engineering, agile prototyping, or a culture of innovation.
• Establishes short term, prioritized task lists and sprint schedules with technical staff, provides team technical tasking and prioritization, monitors technical performance, and reports status back to CE/PM.
• Develops and adapts program technical execution plan and provides inputs to PM team to support schedule development, updates and milestone schedule progress.
• Reviews and must approve any program schedule or plan as well as key changes (a) at the time of proposal or (b) during program execution.
• Ensures technical design meets program requirements, through simulation and modeling review, test and measurement data review, and customer communication with Technical Interchange Meetings
• Ensure technical accuracy and quality of all CDRL / program technical status reports to customer, presents technical status to customer, and participates in all routine customer status and coordination meetings.
• Conducts weekly or bi-weekly feedback/pulse checks with the technical staff to ensure team alignment, identify issues, formulate mitigations/enhancements and evaluate programmatic impact. Report these in aggregate form to Portfolio Manager and Division Chief Engineer.
• Collaborate with the Division Chief Engineer and Portfolio Manager to establish the appropriate risk position for the program(s) they are responsible for, work with the team to identify risks and opportunities and plans to mitigate/capture. Ensure new risks or opportunities are clearly communicated to the Portfolio Manager and Division Chief Engineer.
• For new captures to which they are assigned, the Deputy Chief Engineer is responsible for developing a winning technical baseline, establishing the technical plan for the proposed effort, and overseeing the creation of the proposal Tech Volume.
• Creates favorable culture to increase productivity, sound engineering, and innovation.
• Establishes regular, agile technical peer review process across team to check and validate design changes as well as design elements that trace to critical performance requirements.
• Provides technical mentoring to rising technical leaders.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level