Product Engineer I

AeroVironment; Simi Valley (CA); On-site; USD 67,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

AeroVironment is seeking a Product Engineer I to sustain UAV systems and perform design modifications to mechanical assemblies, payloads, launch systems, and related components. You will contribute to design verification testing and help manage documents and specifications throughout the product lifecycle.

In this role you will develop manufacturing drawings and BOMs, support design reviews, and assist project managers with planning while coordinating with suppliers to resolve production issues

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent.
• 0–2 years of engineering design/production support experience.
• Experience with Agile PLM and product configuration management is desirable.
• Experience with UAVs, RF/digital/communications electronics, and PCB layout.
• Familiarity with drafting/CAD (Altium) and ASME Y14 standards.

Responsibilities

• Sustain engineering support for a product line.
• Manage product config and change orders in Agile PLM.
• Understand product design and manufacturing processes.
• Coordinate release of docs, BOMs, procedures, and tooling.
• Support transition of new products into production.
• Assist with proposals, reports, and contract reviews.
• Collaborate with teams to resolve production issues.
• Provide customer support for failure analysis and field content.

Skills

UAV experience

RF & Digital Electronics

Engineering fundamentals

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a related field

Tools

Agile PLM data management

Altium CAD

ASME Y14 drawing standards

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

As a Product Engineer I at AeroVironment, your primary duties are sustaining engineering support for UAV systems for military and commercial applications. Includes design modifications of structural components, electro-mechanical assemblies, payloads, ground equipment, launching systems, flight control actuators, prototype hardware development, performing design verification testing, and configuration management of products. Other duties: developing & maintaining manufacturing drawings and bills of materials for components and assemblies using industry drafting standards, supporting design reviews, assisting project managers with the planning and scheduling of engineering work, and supporting manufacturing & suppliers with the production of mechanical components & assemblies.

Position Responsibilities

• Sustainsengineering support related to a product line
• Manages product line configuration and change orders in Agile PLM system
• Basic understanding of product design and features, be familiar with the manufacturing process
• Basic understanding of customer performance and configuration requirements for product
• Acts as a technical point of contact for ongoing support and change initiation, including managing
• Assists in proposal & report writing, review of contracts for production orders
• Helps coordinate the transition for new products and product variants into production
• Coordinates the release and update of engineering design documentation, operator manuals, bill of materials, manufacturing procedures, product acceptance test procedures, and production tooling and test equipment
• Coordinates development, testing and release of product improvements and variants in cooperation with product line manager, design engineers and project managers
• Provides component obsolescence management for the product line
• Provides customer support for failure analysis, field bulletin technical content, general product information
• Works with suppliers, purchasing and planning to ensure resolution of technical issues that impact production
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field of study is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• 0 - 2years of related experience in a similar role, including experience in an engineering design. environment, including support of products in production
• Desirable experience or attributes: Agile PLM data management system product configuration management standards (MIL-HDBK-61A, EIA-649-B).
• Experience with unmanned air vehicles a plus; RF, digital, and communications electronics design Electronics manufacturing troubleshooting PCB layout, schematics and assembly’s Design/drafting/CAD (Altium), including ASME Y14 drawing standards
• Basic understanding of configuration management principles
• Basic understanding of Engineering fundamentals, mathematics, physics, material properties, electronics, systems, software
• Ability to solve basic structural dynamics problems
• Demonstrated familiarity with office software and computer-based productivity tools

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Lean Six Sigma experience preferred
• Receives detailed instructions on all work and follows standard practices in analyzing data
• Learns the requirements for building of production assemblies, including documentation for use on production floor
• Learns to use professional concepts and build stable working relationships internally
• Works on problems of limited scope and applies company procedures to resolve routine issues
• Gain ability to integrate across technical disciplines and organizations, including program management, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, suppliers and customers
• 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 problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal and strong communication skills
• Consistently demonstrates teamwork, collaboration and puts 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)
• Requires frequent travel to support working with suppliers, resolving product issues, participating in system tests, and supporting customers

Clearance Level

Public Trust

The salary range for this role is:

$66,500 - $101,500

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.

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