Sr. Mechanical Engineer - Space Technologies

AV; Germantown (MD); On-site; USD 111,500 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision benefits

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AV provides a full suite of exquisite, space-qualified hardware trusted to fly in the most extreme environments space presents across GEO, MEO, LEO and Cislunar orbits. With hundreds of systems flying in space, our customers turn to AV when a mission can't fail.

Our team is expanding to do the big things that have never been done before - the things the nation and the world are counting on us to deliver. AV is seeking an experienced mechanical engineer to lead design and analysis for diverse R&D

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering is required.
• 12 years' mechanical engineering experience in structural and thermal analysis, FEA, CAD, GD&T, or space hardware design/test.
• Strong technical writing skills for engineering documentation.

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering design and analysis leadership to diverse R&D programs and small-volume production contracts.
• Lead the structural and thermal analysis of mechanical systems for space and airborne hardware.
• Work within a multi-disciplined project team.
• Responsible for mechanical design and analysis activity, and support integration and formal acceptance-test activities.
• Projects vary from packaging high reliability electronics subsystems to opto-mechanical mechanism design such as gimbal and steering mirror systems.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Structural and thermal analysis

FEA

CAD software (SolidWorks)

Tolerance analysis & GD&T

Space hardware design & test

Technical writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Job Description

AV provides a full suite of exquisite, space-qualified hardware trusted to fly in the most extreme environments space presents across GEO, MEO, LEO and Cislunar orbits. With hundreds of systems flying in space, our customers turn to AV when a mission can't fail. Our team is expanding to do the big things that have never been done before - the things the nation and the world are counting on us to deliver.

Worker Type

Regular

Summary

AV provides a full suite of exquisite, space-qualified hardware trusted to fly in the most extreme environments space presents across GEO, MEO, LEO and Cislunar orbits. With hundreds of systems flying in space, our customers turn to AV when a mission can't fail. Our team is expanding to do the big things that have never been done before - the things the nation and the world are counting on us to deliver.

Position Responsibilities

• Provide engineering design and analysis leadership to diverse R&D programs and small-volume production contracts
• Lead the structural and thermal analysis of mechanical systems for space and airborne hardware
• Work within a multi-disciplined project team
• Responsible for mechanical design and analysis activity, and support integration and formal acceptance-test activities
• Projects vary from packaging high reliability electronics subsystems to opto-mechanical mechanism design such as gimbal and steering mirror systems
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• 12 years' mechanical engineering experience in one or more of the following areas:
• Structural and thermal analysis including analytical calculations and FEA (stress analysis, modal analysis, thermal conduction analysis, bolt loads, etc.)
• Design using CAD software, ideally experience with SolidWorks
• Tolerance analysis and GD&T practices
• Space hardware design, analysis, integration, and test
• Strong technical writing skills applicable to engineering documentation (analysis reports, specifications, requirements documents, etc.)

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• 15 years' experience in mechanical engineering of space systems.
• Strong verbal communication skills needed for customer interaction at design reviews, supplier interaction, etc.
• Ability to quickly adapt to various projects and types of work and to work several projects simultaneously while managing time and priorities.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a development team.
• Experience and willingness to be hands on during hardware assembly, integration, and test.
• Current US security clearance.

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

$111,500 - $170,000

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. Must be willing to work on government contracts and have the ability to obtain a security clearance.