Chief Operations Leader – Autonomous Systems

AV; Simi Valley (CA); On-site; USD 245,500 - 393,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision package

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AV seeks a Vice President, Operations for AeroVironment’s AxS segment to lead end-to-end execution across planning, production, logistics, and sustainment. The role oversees daily flow, quality, schedule, and cost, partnering with BU leaders and Global Operations to scale capacity and industrialize new products.

The VP will own the operations cadence, drive continuous improvement, and ensure safe, compliant, and on-time delivery across multiple product lines and sites, with deep collaboration

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations management, supply chain, business, or related field.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in operations, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, or related fields.
• Proven leadership of complex, multi-site operations in aerospace & defense or similar regulated environments.
• Experience managing operations at scale with safety, quality, delivery, cost, and working capital accountability.
• Travel 25–40% domestically and internationally; ability to obtain security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end fulfillment and delivery across demand planning, ERP loading, production, shipment, fielding, support, and replenishment.
• Drive an integrated operating cadence connecting BD, Programs, Finance, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, and Sustainment.
• Ensure accurate orders, BOMs, routings, schedules, and inventory signals; lead recovery for disruptions.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Lean/Six Sigma

Supply chain optimization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations management, supply chain, business, or related field

Tools

MRP/ERP systems

MES

PLM

Job description

AV seeks a Vice President, Operations for AeroVironment’s AxS segment to lead end-to-end execution across planning, production, logistics, and sustainment. The role oversees daily flow, quality, schedule, and cost, partnering with BU leaders and Global Operations to scale capacity and industrialize new products.

The VP will own the operations cadence, drive continuous improvement, and ensure safe, compliant, and on-time delivery across multiple product lines and sites, with deep collaboration