Systems Engineer – Space Technologies

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

AV is seeking a Systems Engineer to join our Space Technologies division. This role will support the development of advanced space-based systems, including opto-mechanical laser communications systems and spacecraft electronics.

The Systems Engineer will contribute to requirements development and management, interface definition, verification and validation, technical documentation, and cross-functional system integration. The ideal candidate will have a strong systems-engineering foundation and sufficient electrical and hardware knowledge to review spacecraft electrical systems including circuit card assemblies and related interfaces.

This position is intended for a mid-level engineer who can independently own assigned systems-engineering activities while working collaboratively with program technical leadership. Experience with optical communications, electro-optical systems, spacecraft electrical systems, avionics, power systems, or controls is highly desirable.

Position Responsibilities

• Develop, decompose, allocate, analyze, and maintain system and subsystem requirements.
• Support requirements solicitation, clarification, review, baseline management, and traceability.
• Evaluate requirements for clarity, completeness, consistency, feasibility, and verifiability.
• Develop and maintain interface documentation, including Interface Control Documents and related specifications.
• Coordinate interfaces across electrical, mechanical, optical, software, firmware, thermal, data, and operational disciplines.
• Review system and subsystem designs for alignment with requirements, interfaces, and intended functionality.
• Support the development and maintenance of Concept of Operations (ConOps) documents, operational scenarios, and related system-level technical documentation.
• Participate in electrical and hardware design reviews, including reviews involving circuit card assemblies and spacecraft electrical systems.
• Develop and maintain verification strategies, methods, success criteria, and verification-tracking artifacts.
• Support planning and execution of verification activities, including test, demonstration, inspection, and analysis.
• Coordinate verification activities with Integration and Test personnel and track verification evidence and closure.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including plans, procedures, specifications, reports, analyses, and review materials.
• Support the implementation and continuous improvement of systems-engineering processes, templates, and guidance.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Competencies)

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• 2 or more years of relevant engineering experience in systems engineering, electrical engineering, avionics, optical engineering, controls, hardware integration, test engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience applying systems-engineering principles, or related requirements, interface, integration, verification, or technical-documentation practices, in an aerospace, defense, or other disciplined engineering environment.
• Experience with one or more of the following:
  • Requirements development, management, decomposition, allocation, or traceability
  • Interface definition and control
  • Verification and validation planning or execution
  • System integration and test
  • Technical design reviews
  • Controlled engineering documentation
• Ability to understand and meaningfully review electrical and hardware system designs, interfaces, and functionality. Direct CCA design experience is not required.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks and collaboratively across engineering disciplines.
• Must be eligible to work with CUI and ITAR-controlled information.
• Equivalent combinations of education, experience, and demonstrated technical capability may be considered.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Master's degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field.
• 4 or more years of experience supporting formal aerospace or defense development programs and technical reviews.
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methods and SysML, including experience with requirements modeling, system architecture, allocations, traceability, or interface relationships.
• Experience with Cameo Systems Modeler, MagicDraw, DOORs, Jama, or other MBSE or requirements-management tools.
• Experience developing or maintaining verification matrices, verification plans, or related V&V documentation.
• Experience with spacecraft electrical systems, avionics, power systems, control systems, electro-optical hardware, or embedded systems.
• Experience reviewing electrical schematics, block diagrams, hardware requirements, or electrical interfaces.
• Experience with optical communications, laser communications, optical terminals, or related electro-optical systems.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, or comparable engineering-analysis tools.
• Competencies
• Understanding of the relationship between requirements, system design, interfaces, integration, verification, and validation.
• Ability to identify incomplete, ambiguous, conflicting, or non-verifiable requirements.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to translate complex technical information into clear, accurate documentation.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to learn new tools, processes, and technical domains.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment (Constant)
• Regularly required to stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)
• Ability to work in laboratory, integration, and test environments (Occasionally)
• Travel may be required to customer, supplier, or test locations (Occasionally)

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$74,500 - $113,500

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.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We 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.

Founded 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.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

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 required. Must be willing to work on government contracts and have the ability to obtain a security clearance.