Senior Systems Engineer

AeroVironment•Germantown, MD

12d

About The Position

AV is seeking skilled Systems Engineers to support the design, development, integration, testing, and deployment of advanced electromechanical, opto-mechanical, and RF systems across our diverse portfolio of defense solutions. In this role, you will be a key technical contributor on programs spanning ground, air, and space domains --working at the intersection of multiple engineering disciplines to ensure system-level success. As a Systems Engineer, you will lead requirements management, architecture definition, interface control, and verification planning for complex, multi-disciplinary systems. You will 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 cost objectives. This position offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies supporting critical national security missions, with exposure to multiple domains and program phases. You will contribute to AV's reputation for innovation and technical excellence while developing your systems engineering expertise in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment. Ideal candidates bring a strong foundation in systems engineering principles, hands-on experience with end-to-end system development and hardware-software integration, excellent communication skills, and the ability to thrive in a collaborative, cross-functional team setting.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, Optical, Computer, Systems), Physics, or related discipline.
5+ years of systems engineering experience in defense, aerospace, or related industry
Demonstrated experience with requirements management, including elicitation, decomposition, traceability, and verification planning
Hands-on experience with end-to-end development, integration and test activities for complex hardware-software systems
Proficiency with requirements management tools.
Strong understanding of systems engineering processes and standards across the system development lifecycle
Experience defining and managing technical interfaces between subsystems, disciplines, or organizations
Excellent technical writing and communication skills with ability to convey complex concepts to diverse audiences
Proven ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and matrix organizations
Must be willing to obtain a security clearance if needed.
U.S. citizenship required

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or Ph.D. in related engineering or technical discipline.
Experience with electromechanical, opto-mechanical, or RF system development and integration
Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and methods.
Experience with environmental testing (TVAC, shock, vibration, EMI/EMC) and corresponding test standards
Hands-on experience leading technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) or serving as systems lead on programs
Knowledge of defense acquisition processes and DoD milestone review frameworks
Active (or active within last 2 years) Secret or higher level of DoD security clearance is desired but not required.

Responsibilities

Develop, decompose, and manage system and subsystem requirements from customer needs through verification and validation
Establish and maintain bidirectional traceability between requirements, design elements, and verification methods using requirements management tools
Define and document system and subsystem interfaces (mechanical, electrical, optical, RF, data) through Interface Control Documents (ICDs)
Develop system architectures, functional flows, and physical decompositions for electromechanical, opto-mechanical, and RF systems
Conduct trade studies and technical analyses to support design decisions and optimize system performance against cost, schedule, and performance constraints
Create verification matrices and test plans that map requirements to appropriate verification methods (test, analysis, inspection, demonstration)
Develop integration strategies and support integration activities for multi-disciplinary systems across subsystems and suppliers
Support system-level testing, verification events, and validation activities to ensure requirements are met
Collaborate daily with mechanical, electrical, software, optical, and RF engineers to resolve technical issues and ensure system-level integration
Identify, assess, and track technical risks; develop mitigation plans in collaboration with engineering teams
Prepare technical specifications, reports, design documentation, and presentations for internal teams and customers
Participate in technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and design reviews as systems engineering representative
Assess impact of requirements changes and support change control processes to maintain technical and programmatic integrity
Support customer technical meetings, reviews, and demonstrations with clear technical communication
Contribute to continuous improvement of systems engineering processes, tools, templates, and best practices