Senior Engineer - M&S

AeroVironment, Inc.; Schriever Space Force Base (CO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental vision

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. is seeking a Senior Engineer - M&S to lead a team of engineers and analysts, accrediting models and simulations for MDA/SEQ and OTA needs. You will coordinate with multiple program offices and test agencies, advise government customers, and manage test event schedules.

Required are a STEM master's degree and 12+ years of experience, plus active clearance with TS eligibility. Excellent communication and independent work style are essential.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a STEM field is required.
• 12+ years of related experience.
• Active Secret clearance with ability to obtain TS clearance.
• Expertise in MDS, SE, T&E, and Risk Management.
• Experience with modeling & simulation (M&S) and VV&A.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-starter with initiative and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently with ambiguous requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior technical and project management leadership.
• Coordinate across MDA and service component offices and test agencies.
• Advise government customers on advanced projects.
• Develop and manage test event schedules with milestones and products.
• Collaborate with engineering/analysis teams to deliver high-quality products on time.
• Attend meetings relevant to test events and review plans.
• Analyze plans/reports for sufficiency and understanding.
• Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Provide status updates to leadership.
• Evolve processes and products to drive innovation.
• Develop Programs of Action and Milestones (POA&M) for model limitations.

Skills

M&S expertise

Security clearance

Technical leadership

Policy development

Stakeholder communication

Education

Master's degree in STEM

Job description

Job Description

Worker Type Regular Job Description AV is looking for a highly talented Senior Engineer - M&S to join our team! In this role, you will support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Systems Engineering Enterprise Ground Test Assessment and Verification Directorate (MDA/SEQ) by leading a functional team of engineers and analysts to solve complex problems, establish policy and procedures, and to accredit a federation of models and simulations (M&S) for their intended use by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Operational Test Agency Team (OTA), Combatant Commanders (COCOMS), and the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) to support Missile Defense System (MDS) combined developmental (DT&E) and operational (OT&E) testing.

• Provide senior technical/project management
• Interact with and coordinate across multiple program organizations within MDA, as well as Service Component program offices and test agencies
• Advise Government customers on advanced and wide-ranging projects
• Develop and manage test event schedules to include all milestones and products
• Work with the engineering and analysis teams to create and deliver high quality technical products on time
• Attend and participate in meetings that are relevant to the test events
• Analyze other organizations' plans, reports, briefings for sufficiency and understanding
• Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies
• Provide regular status updates to the leadership team
• Ongoing review and evolution of processes and products to identify innovative solutions
• Develop Programs of Action and Milestones (POA&M) to address known model limitations

Required

• Master's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) field
• 12+ years of experience
• Active Secret clearance with ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance
• Specialized depth and breadth of expertise and knowledge of the Missile Defense System (MDS), Systems Engineering (SE), Test and Evaluation (T&E), and Risk Management principles
• Demonstrated experience in modeling & simulation (M&S), and M&S verification, validation, and accreditation (VV&A) policy, processes, and best practices
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Outstanding interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated experience developing information and decision briefings and writing technical reports
• Self-starter with initiative and attention to detail
• Able to work independently with ambiguous requirements and direction when necessary

Desired

• Experience as a Project officer supporting DoD flag/general officer staff
• Knowledge of DoD Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process

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 will be asked to provide specific documentation to verify U.S. person status under the ITAR and the EAR. A “U.S. person” according to their 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

• medical
• dental vision
• 401K with company matching
• 9/80 work schedule
• paid holiday shutdown

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.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC. Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition. 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 About 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. Careers at AeroVironment