Senior Machine Learning & Autonomy Engineering

AeroVironment, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 124,000 - 189,000; 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. seeks a Senior AI/ML Engineer to advance ML models for counter-UAS detection and classification. You will work with RF datasets, apply DSP-driven preprocessing, and build scalable data pipelines alongside our San Diego team and field engineers.

Responsibilities include developing and evaluating ML algorithms, handling large datasets, and automating data workflows. Preferred experience with PyTorch and MLOps practices will help drive deployment and model quality across

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Machine Learning, CS, Applied Math, or similar with 3 years of relevant experience.
• Strong foundation DSP principles and techniques.
• Proficiency in Python; MATLAB experience is a plus.
• Work experience with ML, statistical signal processing, or pattern recognition.
• Strong data handling skills and instincts for large, complex datasets.
• Curiosity and motivation to experiment with new approaches and automation strategies.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Help with the development, application, and evaluation of ML algorithms to address challenging detection and signal processing problems.
• Analyze and manage large datasets to support model training and testing.
• Identify opportunities to automate data processing workflows and improve team efficiency.
• Apply Digital Signal Processing (DSP) principles to assist in algorithm development.
• Analyze results from real-world data to identify root causes, statistical trends, and insights.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams in research and development efforts.

Skills

Python

DSP principles

Machine Learning

Data handling

Pattern recognition

MATLAB

PyTorch

MLOps concepts

Education

Master's degree in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Applied Math, or similar

Tools

PyTorch

Job description

Worker Type Regular Job Description

About the Role

AeroVironment is seeking a Senior AI/ML Engineer to support the development and deployment of machine learning algorithms that detect and classify drone threats for our Counter-UAS systems. You will work with large-scale RF datasets, applying DSP techniques for denoising and preconditioning spectrograms, building data pipelines, and identifying opportunities to automate manual workflows. This role sits at the intersection of signal processing, statistics, deep learning, and MLOps, working closely with our San Diego AI/ML team, SW engineers, and field test teams to train models, improve data quality, and scale our detection capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Help with the development, application, and evaluation of machine learning algorithms to address challenging detection and signal processing problems
• Analyze and manage large datasets to support model training and testing
• Identify opportunities to automate data processing workflows and improve team efficiency
• Apply Digital Signal Processing (DSP) principles to assist in algorithm development
• Analyze results from real-world data to identify root causes, statistical trends, and insights
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams in research and development efforts

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Applied Math, or similar field with 3 years of relevant experience
• Strong foundation DSP principles and techniques
• Proficiency in Python; MATLAB experience is a plus
• Work experience with machine learning, statistical signal processing, or pattern recognition
• Strong data handling skills and instincts for working with large, complex datasets
• Curiosity and motivation to experiment with new approaches and automation strategies
• Good written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with PyTorch or similar deep learning frameworks
• Familiarity with MLOps practices (model training, versioning, deployment)
• Experience with spectral analysis, adaptive filtering, or detection/estimation theory
• Demonstrated ability to propose creative solutions to data or workflow challenges
• Exposure to Counter-UAS, radar, EW, or defense RF systems
• Passion for building impactful products that serve real-world missions

Clearance Level

No Clearance

Salary Range

The salary range for this role is: $123,500 - $188,500

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.

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

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