Electrical Engineering Manager

AeroVironment; Petaluma (CA); On-site; USD 118,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K matching

9/80 schedule

Holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment in Petaluma, CA is seeking an Electrical Engineering Manager to lead a team of engineers supporting Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System product development. You will coordinate with other departments to meet milestones, define the engineering strategy, budget, and team development.

Responsibilities include guiding the design from concept through manufacture, mentoring staff, and ensuring products meet quality and safety standards while remaining innovative and competitive.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Experience in analog electronic design.
• Experience in designing low volume and high-quality electronic products.
• Experience in PCB and electronic design using software.
• Proficient with Word, Excel, MS Project and/or other software.
• Demonstrates strong leadership and people-management skills.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Manages all aspects of design and development of electrical projects and oversees implementation into finished products.
• Oversees the design process from concept through manufacture and maintains project plans, schedules and budgets.
• Assigns projects to vendors and contractors as necessary.
• Reviews policies to maximize department performance and manage fiscal responsibility.
• Supports quality and safety initiatives and continual improvement.
• Trains and coordinates engineering staff to ensure designs meet specifications.
• Leads teams in decision making, schedule adherence, and scope management.
• Mentors engineering staff.
• Interacts with supervisors, customers and peers to align across functions.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Engineering management

Analytical thinking

Communication

Team mentoring

Project management

Problem solving

Quality and safety focus

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

MS Project

PCB design software

Job description

Petaluma, CA

Full time

8582

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

The Electrical Engineering Manager, provides direction and management for a team of engineers to support Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System product development. A primary responsibility for the Electrical Engineering Manager is to coordinate with other departments to meet the milestones during product development cycles. One participates in defining and executing the overall engineering product development strategy, budget, team development and evaluation. Monitors developments within related fields of technology to ensure products are innovative and competitive.

Position Responsibilities

Manages all aspects of design and development of electrical projects and oversees the implementation of the technology into finished products to ensure that department goals and objectives are met

• Oversees the design process from design concept through manufacture and develops, coordinates and maintains comprehensive project plans, work schedules and budgets

• Select and assign projects to outside vendors and independent contractors as necessary

• Assists with the creation of specification sheets, instructions and other product-related materials

• Review and make recommendations on policies and procedures to maximize departmental operating performance and manage fiscal responsibility for the Engineering department

• Actively supports commitment to Quality and Safety, and all quality and safety objectives, with an emphasis on continual improvement

• Train, oversee and coordinate the work of Engineering Staff to ensure that engineering designs meet product and quality specifications in addition to being detailed, accurate and completed in a timely manner

• Leads and influences teams in decision making, schedule adherence and scope managementEnsures that staff is contributing at maximum potential through rigorous hiring practices and an emphasis on training, development, goal setting and performance management on a regular and timely basis

• Provides mentorship to engineering team

• Frequently interacts with subordinate supervisors, customers and/or functional peer group managers, normally involving matters between functional areas

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed to meet with vendors to discuss technical issues

• Other duties as assigned Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

• 10 - 12 years of experience in an electrical engineering role, with minimum 5 years managerial experience

• Experience in analog electronic design required

• Experience in designing low volume and high-quality electronic products

• Experience in PCB and electronic design using software

• Ability to design and develop products from concept through manufacture, analyze and resolve quality assurance issues in a timely manner Additional Requirements

• Proficient with Word, Excel, MS Project and/or other appropriate software or project management tools

• Demonstrates strong leadership skills and interacts effectively and cooperatively with employees at all levels

• Operates well in a fast-paced organization while handling multiple projects simultaneously, completing assignments within specified timeframes

• Demonstrates creativity and ingenuity in applying engineering principles and practices

• Has excellent analytical and organizational skills, be detail oriented. Strong written, negotiation, presentation and verbal communication skills

• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances

• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees

• Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness and the creation of a shared vision

• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change

• Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain internal and external trust, professional relationships

• Assesses the degree of risk and opportunity in plans or actions and takes appropriate action to mitigate them or makes plans to build on the opportunity Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office and production environment (Constant)Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$117,500 - $179,250

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.

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

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.