Senior Systems Engineer – Human Performance Research
About The Position
AeroVironment is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to support government research programs focused on human performance and human effectiveness. The position applies systems engineering principles to define complex problems, evaluate technical solutions, and help transition research capabilities into practical operational applications. The engineer works across government, engineering, software, hardware, and research teams. The role includes reviewing software and hardware designs, assessing technical performance, managing technical risks, and ensuring research workflows and system concepts are documented clearly and aligned with program objectives. The position is onsite at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio, and requires U.S. citizenship. The role may direct, develop, review, or approve technical roadmaps, System Design Documents, use cases, system topologies and architectures, test plans, product transition plans, technical proposals, and requirements and interface documentation.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in engineering or a scientific discipline related to systems engineering, human performance, or human effectiveness.
- Demonstrated expertise in a systems discipline, such as systems engineering, human systems integration, systems/data architecture, modeling and analysis, or technical program engineering.
- Demonstrated ability to apply systems thinking and a systems approach to complex problem definition and solution development.
- Experience developing, reviewing, or approving technical documentation for software and hardware systems.
- Demonstrable experience evaluating technical performance, system designs, workflows, or research capabilities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and government stakeholders.
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- Must provide documentation to verify U.S. person status for ITAR and/or EAR compliance.
Nice To Haves
- Experience supporting government, defense, aerospace, or human-performance research programs.
- Experience working with research and development organizations or government laboratories.
- Experience conceptualizing how research concepts, prototypes, or demonstrations can become operational capabilities.
- Familiarity with software development, system integration, requirements development, verification and validation, and technical risk management.
- Experience supporting technical program management or leading multidisciplinary engineering efforts.
Responsibilities
- Apply systems thinking and a systems approach to problem definition, analysis, and solution development.
- Review software, hardware, system, and workflow designs for technical quality, feasibility, and alignment with user and program requirements.
- Lead or support the development, review, and approval of technical documentation for software and hardware development.
- Evaluate technical performance, system maturity, integration considerations, and transition readiness.
- Identify technical risks, dependencies, interfaces, and potential impacts to research or operational objectives.
- Support research-to-operations planning and transition research capabilities into usable government or operational environments.
- Collaborate with government customers, researchers, software developers, hardware engineers, program managers, and other technical stakeholders.
- Provide clear technical recommendations and support informed engineering and program decisions.
- Prepare and present technical briefings, assessments, roadmaps, and recommendations to government and program leadership.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
- 401(k) with company matching.
- 9/80 work schedule.
- Paid holiday shutdown.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
