Senior Systems Architect - Uncrewed Defense Tech

AeroVironment, Inc.; Simi Valley (CA); On-site; USD 147,000 - 224,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401K with company matching

9/80 schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. in the United States is seeking a Sr. Staff Systems Engineer to collaborate with the design team on innovative Uncrewed Systems for defense and commercial use. You will allocate requirements, shape system architecture, and guide test efforts across development stages.

You will work with design engineers and IPT leads to ensure traceability, conduct model-based analysis, and deliver robust system solutions. Strong C/C++, MATLAB, and flight-test experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• 12–15 years of relevant experience in a systems engineering or system design role.
• Experience as a systems architect to influence overall system design.
• Experience in flight test execution and standardization of flight test processes.
• Experience in component and system-level testing.
• Proficiency with C/C++ and MATLAB.
• Experience in requirements compliance during test.
• Experience in requirements allocation from system to subsystem.
• Experience managing requirements traceability and evolution throughout the system development cycle.
• Experience providing effective weekly status of system development progress with requirements burndown.
• Experience evaluating system performance thresholds and providing direction.
• Familiarity with electronics and systems related to image collection and analysis.
• Experience developing system test plans, procedures, and reports, and reviewing and interpreting specifications.
• Experience writing and conducting safety hazard assessments.
• Experience writing system safety protocols and ensuring personnel safety during field testing.
• Experience leading and presenting technical content at systems engineering gate reviews to the customer.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with program Chief Engineers and IPT leads to support system architecture, design, and test of Uncrewed Systems
• Manage requirements traceability and evolution throughout the system development cycle
• Provide weekly status of system development progress with requirements burndown
• Allocate requirements down to subsystems and establish traceability
• Evaluate system performance thresholds and provide direction
• Work with Senior Engineers in developing instrumented flight test vectors and data acquisition
• Provide input for model development and simulation analysis
• Review and interpret customer specifications
• Identify, analyze, and resolve system design weaknesses; influence the shaping of future products by contributing to the framework (architecture) used across multiple products or systems
• Determine methods and procedures on new assignments and may coordinate activities of other personnel (Team Lead)
• Analyze complex data against performance criteria and determine root causes of failures
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

C/C++

MATLAB

Requirements traceability

System architecture

Flight test execution

Requirements allocation

Risk assessment

Data analysis

Team leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, or Mechanical Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Simulink

Ansys

SolidWorks

Job description

AeroVironment, Inc. in the United States is seeking a Sr. Staff Systems Engineer to collaborate with the design team on innovative Uncrewed Systems for defense and commercial use. You will allocate requirements, shape system architecture, and guide test efforts across development stages.

You will work with design engineers and IPT leads to ensure traceability, conduct model-based analysis, and deliver robust system solutions. Strong C/C++, MATLAB, and flight-test experience are essential.