Systems Engineer - Multiple Levels

AeroVironment; Germantown (MD); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. seeks talented Systems Engineers to support the development, integration, verification, and deployment of advanced aerospace systems.

Positions are onsite at Albuquerque, NM or Germantown, MD, with responsibilities spanning requirements, architecture, verification, and delivery across multiple programs. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in systems engineering lifecycle processes, MBSE, and cross-functional teamwork, with potential for leadership and mentorship as

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, an engineering discipline, physics, or a related technical field.
• Relevant experience in systems engineering, requirements development and management, system integration, verification, validation, or test.
• Working knowledge of systems engineering lifecycle processes, requirements traceability, and verification methodologies.
• Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop requirements, test plans, verification methods, and technical documentation.
• Experience analyzing technical data, resolving system-level issues, and communicating clear conclusions and recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Capture, develop, decompose, allocate, and manage customer, system, subsystem, and product requirements using requirements-management tools.
• Work with program management, chief engineers, and functional engineering leads to understand customer needs and translate them into clear, verifiable technical requirements.
• Develop and maintain requirements traceability, interface documentation, specifications, and other technical data.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, RF, optical, software, and other engineering disciplines to develop system architectures, interfaces, and lower-level requirements.
• Develop and support verification and validation strategies, plans, procedures, and methods.
• Support system integration, functional testing, qualification, and acceptance testing.
• Collect, analyze, and document test data and support closure of verification and validation activities.
• Participate in internal and customer technical reviews, including requirements, design, test readiness, and verification reviews.
• Support technical risk management, trade studies, impact assessments, and resolution of cross-functional issues.
• Provide full lifecycle support for product baseline changes, configuration management, and customer-specific modifications.
• Work directly with teams developing, integrating, testing, fielding, and supporting prototype and low-rate production hardware.
• Support program planning, technical status reporting, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership, task ownership, or mentorship based on experience.
• Support special projects and continuous improvement of AV’s systems engineering processes and capabilities.

Skills

Problem solving

Communication

Collaboration

Technical documentation

Requirements management

Systems engineering

Systems architecture

Test planning

Risk management

Leadership/mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering or related field

Tools

Cameo

MBSE tools

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

AV is continuously seeking talented Systems Engineers to work onsite at one of our Albuquerque, New Mexico or Germantown, Maryland offices. In this role, you will support the development, integration, verification, and deployment of advanced aerospace, space RF, laser, beam-control, and electromechanical systems.

Systems Engineers at AV help transform customer needs and technical concepts into well-defined, testable, and mission-ready products. This evergreen posting is intended for candidates at multiple experience levels, with responsibilities and seniority aligned to qualifications, experience, and program needs.

Depending on the assignment, Systems Engineers may support space and ground RF systems, ground-based laser and beam-control products, or related advanced technology programs. You will collaborate with systems engineers, mechanical, electrical, RF, optical, software, test, and program management teams throughout the product lifecycle.

Responsibilities may include requirements development, system architecture, verification and validation, integration and test, risk management, technical reviews, and product delivery. More experienced candidates may lead systems engineering activities, special projects, or provide technical direction and mentorship to other engineers.

Position Responsibilities

Depending on experience and program needs, responsibilities may include:

• Capture, develop, decompose, allocate, and manage customer, system, subsystem, and product requirements using requirements-management tools.
• Work with program management, chief engineers, and functional engineering leads to understand customer needs and translate them into clear, verifiable technical requirements.
• Develop and maintain requirements traceability, interface documentation, specifications, and other technical data.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, RF, optical, software, and other engineering disciplines to develop system architectures, interfaces, and lower-level requirements.
• Develop and support verification and validation strategies, plans, procedures, and methods.
• Support system integration, functional testing, qualification, and acceptance testing.
• Collect, analyze, and document test data and support closure of verification and validation activities.
• Participate in internal and customer technical reviews, including requirements, design, test readiness, and verification reviews.
• Support technical risk management, trade studies, impact assessments, and resolution of cross-functional issues.
• Provide full lifecycle support for product baseline changes, configuration management, and customer-specific modifications.
• Work directly with teams developing, integrating, testing, fielding, and supporting prototype and low-rate production hardware.
• Support program planning, technical status reporting, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership, task ownership, or mentorship based on experience.
• Support special projects and continuous improvement of AV’s systems engineering processes and capabilities.
• Support occasional travel to customer, supplier, test, or field locations as required.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, an engineering discipline, physics, or a related technical field.
• Relevant experience in systems engineering, requirements development and management, system integration, verification, validation, or test. Level will be determined by qualifications and experience.
• Working knowledge of systems engineering lifecycle processes, requirements traceability, and verification methodologies.
• Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop requirements, test plans, verification methods, and technical documentation.
• Experience analyzing technical data, resolving system-level issues, and communicating clear conclusions and recommendations.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, organizational, and technical documentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, hands‑on engineering environment.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance, if required by the program.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Experience with RF communication systems, satellite architectures, laser systems, beam‑control systems, electro‑optical systems, or related aerospace and defense technologies.
• Experience working directly with teams developing and testing hardware systems, beyond requirements‑management activities.
• Experience collaborating with mechanical, electrical, RF, optical, software, manufacturing, and test engineering teams.
• Experience supporting prototype, low‑rate production, or fielded systems.
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering tools and techniques, including Cameo or similar platforms.
• Working knowledge of the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook and/or ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288.
• Experience with system architecture, interface control, requirements verification, validation, and technical performance assessments.
• Experience supporting environmental, functional, qualification, or acceptance testing.
• Familiarity with requirements‑management, configuration‑management, PLM, or test‑management tools.
• Experience leading systems engineering tasks, technical reviews, special projects, or cross‑functional teams.
• Current and active U.S. Department of Defense security clearance.

Core Competencies

• Requirements development, allocation, management, and traceability
• Systems architecture and multidisciplinary integration
• Verification and validation planning and execution
• Hardware integration, test support, and data analysis
• Technical problem solving and risk management
• Cross‑functional collaboration and stakeholder communication
• Technical documentation and configuration management
• Systems engineering process improvement
• Task ownership, technical leadership, and mentorship

Career Framework

• Track: Engineering
• Discipline: