Manufacturing Engineer III

AeroVironment, Inc.; Simi Valley (CA); On-site; USD 101,000 - 153,000; Full time

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer III to design and operate the manufacturing systems for its unmanned air vehicles. You will select technologies, plan factory layout, and drive maintenance and continuous improvement of processes.

The role requires 5–8 years in related manufacturing fields, Lean and Six Sigma expertise, and CAD/CAx experience. Travel to supplier sites up to 30% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical or similar field required.
• 5–8 years in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, Test Engineering or similar in aerospace/automotive/commercial industries.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma.
• Experience with electro‑mechanical manufacturing, drawings, procedures and BOMs.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office, MiniTab, Oracle, Agile, and CAD programs (SolidWorks preferred).
• Occasional travel to supplier sites up to 30%.

Responsibilities

• Create and manage equipment specifications and documentation for development, qualification and support of assembly and test equipment for production.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing principles and Six Sigma to improve productivity, quality and lead time.
• Generate Value Stream Maps to reduce cycle time, waste and variation.
• Develop manufacturing strategies and capacity models for new and current products, including capital requisition estimates.
• Prepare and review work instructions, assembly procedures and supporting documentation.
• Cost estimate tooling and fixtures for production needs.
• Lead Make/Buy analyses on assemblies with cross‑functional teams.
• Perform Design for Manufacturing, cost and reliability analyses with design engineering.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Electro-mechanical

SolidWorks

Microsoft Office

MiniTab

Oracle

Agile

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

MiniTab

Oracle

CAD

Job description

Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer III designs and operates the manufacturing systems for AeroVironment's Unmanned Air Vehicles. In this role, the Manufacturing Engineer chooses the best technologies and processes for manufacturing, planning and designing the factory as well as managing the maintenance & continuous improvement of the manufacturing process. One has strong knowledge in manufacturing production processes, specifically creating and monitoring automated systems and new technology development. One defines, maintains, and supports manufacturing processes utilized in the manufacture of Small Unmanned Air Vehicles.

Position Responsibilities

• Creates and manages equipment specifications, equipment documentation for development, qualification and support of assembly and test equipment for production
• Implement Lean Manufacturing principles and apply Six Sigma methodology to achieve continuous improvement in productivity, quality, and lead time
• Generate Value Stream Maps to reduce cycle time, waste, variation, and low production yields
• Works on Manufacturing Strategies and capacity models for new and current products, including estimation and maintenance of capital requisitions
• Generates new and reviews existing work instructions, assembly procedures and supporting documentation controlling the manufacturing process
• Cost estimating of new tooling and fixtures required to support production floor.
• Leads Make/Buy analysis on assemblies with cross‑functional team
• Performs Design for Manufacturing, cost, and reliability analysis on new products with the design engineering team
• Works with suppliers and contract manufacturers to ensure receipt of conforming parts and assemblies
• Works on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical or similar field is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Minimum of 5 - 8 years of experience in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, Test Engineering or similar field in Aerospace, Automotive, or Commercial industries
• Experienced in Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma Methodology is required
• Experienced with electro‑mechanical manufacturing, drawings, procedures and Bill of Materials is required
• Experienced using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, Access, Project), MiniTab, Oracle, Agile, and CAD programs (SolidWorks is preferred)
• Occasional travel to supplier sites (up to 30%)

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Advanced degree is preferred
• Specific experience with sheet metal fabrication, plastics, composite layups, printed circuit board assembly, mechanical assembly, calibration and testing processes is desired
• Organization/planning, communication (oral and written), time management, conflict management, ability to manage stress, deadlines and work independently
• Demonstrates competency as a problem solver who is familiar with root cause analysis techniques
• Able to excel in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
• Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
• Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products
• Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company
• Demonstrates effective time management, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills
• Excels at teamwork, collaboration and putting the success of the team above one's own interests

Physical Demands

Ability to work in an office and manufacturing 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:

$100,500 - $153,250

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.

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.