Principal Digital Engineering Systems Architect

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

 

AV is seeking a Lead Digital Engineering Systems Architect to guide and execute Digital Engineering strategy for the Kinetic Interceptors team across a portfolio of advanced missile programs. This senior technical leadership role focuses on the development and integration of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) practices, toolsets, and architectures to support end-to-end product development, analysis, and testing in a Digital Engineering environment.
 

Key Responsibilities:
  

• Define and lead the Digital Engineering vision, strategy, and roadmap aligned with program and customer goals.

• Ensure technical integrity and execution across multi-disciplinary teams, driving solutions that meet or exceed cost, schedule, and performance requirements.

• Serve as the primary technical interface to senior DoD customers, program leadership, subcontractors, and partners.

• Architect and implement engineering ontologies, modeling patterns, and integration strategies across tools and platforms.

• Design and manage system architecture models supporting full lifecycle development --from concept to production.

• Lead a team of systems engineers in implementing MBSE best practices and advancing AV's Digital Engineering capabilities.

• Develop custom scripts and integrations to optimize workflows and model validations across tools.

• Support and maintain existing Digital Engineering tool customizations, triage technical issues, and implement corrective actions.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to assess business needs and translate them into scalable engineering solutions.

• Generate clear technical specifications and documentation.

• Mentor junior engineers and help build technical depth across the organization.
   
  Basic Qualifications:

  • B.S. in an engineering discipline with 12+ years of experience, M.S. with 10+ years, or Ph.D. with 8+ years.

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience developing and leading Digital Engineering environments in support of weapon systems.

  • An active Secret level security clearance.

  • Strong background in system architecture design, systems engineering, integration, and testing.

  • Demonstrated leadership in multi-disciplinary teams and experience managing technical execution across complex programs.

  • Direct experience working with DoD customers and defense industry partners.

  • Proven ability to manage multi-million-dollar engineering budgets and resources.

  • Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.

  • Experience with engineering Risk and Opportunity (R&O) management.

  • Willingness to travel occasionally to customer or test sites.

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. with 13+ years or Ph.D. with 11+ years of relevant experience.

• 10+ years of experience leading Digital Engineering efforts for complex defense systems.

• Hands-on experience with MBSE tools (e.g., Cameo, Rhapsody, Enterprise Architect) and data exchange mechanisms.

• Experience with ontology design, system modeling languages (e.g., SysML), and custom tool integrations.

• Prior involvement in strategic planning, business development, or capture efforts in the defense industry.

Salary Range: $160,000 - $226,800

The AV pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Determination of official compensation or salary relies on several factors, including but not limited to, level of position, job responsibilities, geographic location, scope of relevant work experience, educational background, certifications, contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, alignment with local internal equity, as well as alignment with market data.

Our compensation package also includes components designed to support employees' total well-being, which should be considered when evaluating our competitive benefits package. These benefits include health insurance, life insurance, disability, company holiday and paid time off, parental leave, 401(k) company match and contributions, professional development/training reimbursements, and other work/life programs.

Clearance Level

 

Secret

The salary range for this role is:

$160,000 - $226,800

AeroVironment 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.

ITAR Requirement:

This 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.

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.  For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply.  NO agencies please.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems.  Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

We 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.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship is required. Secret or Top Secret clearance, or the ability obtain a clearance is desired.