Technical Illustrator I

VideoRay; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 57,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

9/80 work schedule

Holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment is seeking a Technical Illustrator I to support technical illustrations and graphic layouts for customer documentation within the Technical Communications Department.

You will create infographics, modify assets, and generate views and exploded assemblies while maintaining brand consistency. Proficiency in SolidWorks, KeyShot, Photoshop, and InDesign is required, with the ability to work extended hours when needed.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in graphic design, CAD or equivalent required.
• 2–4 years as a design/drafter, technical illustrator or graphic designer.
• Engineering drawing print reading with imperial and metric dimensions.
• Understanding of BOMs and finishes specifications.
• Proficient in SolidWorks CAD, EDPM/vault, SolidWorks Visualize, Composer, KeyShot 10 and MS Office.
• Strong attention to detail and revision control.
• Excellent photography and digital photo manipulation skills.
• Proficient in PowerPoint, Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
• Proactive, self-motivated with clear communication under deadlines.
• Occasional night/weekend surge support for proposals.

Responsibilities

• Create infographics and technical illustrations for customer docs.
• Alter existing digital assets for manuals, QRGs, CDRLs, design reviews.
• Generate orthographic/angled views showing component relationships.
• Create exploded assembly views.
• Produce simplified graphics from complex concepts.
• Prepare simplified 3D CAD models (.obj, .step, .sldprt, .fbx, .iges, .stl).
• Export graphics in consistent formats with version control.
• Maintain central repository of graphics.
• Create new visuals while preserving brand consistency.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

SolidWorks CAD

EDPM/vault

SolidWorks Visualize

SolidWorks Composer

KeyShot 10

MS Office

Photography

Photo editing

PowerPoint

Photoshop

Illustrator

InDesign

Attention to detail

Effective communication

Education

Associate degree in graphic design or CAD

Tools

Rhino

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

The Technical Illustrator I is responsible for technical illustrations support and graphic layouts for product illustrations and photo-documentation for the Technical Communications Department.

Position Responsibilities

• Create infographics, technical illustrations, photographs for use in customer facing documentation
• Alteration of existing digital assets for use in technical manuals, QRGs, CDRLs, and engineering design reviews.
• Generate orthographic and/or angles views to depict functional or proximal zone relationships of components, assemblies, and systems.
• Create exploded assembly views.
• Create simplified graphics from complex concepts.
• Prepare Simplified 3D CAD models for internal and external use in various formats (.obj, .step, .sldprt, .fbx, .iges, and .stl)
• Export graphics in consistent formats while maintaining version control.
• Assist with maintenance and creation of central repository of graphics.
• Must be able to create new visuals while maintain brand consistency.
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Associate’s degree in graphic design, Computer-Aided Drafting or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience is required.
• 2-4 years of experience as a Design/Drafter, Technical Illustrator or Graphic Designer.
• Engineering drawing print reading skills with dimensions in both imperial and metric.
• Understanding of engineering assembly bills of material and component materials and finishes specifications.
• Proficiency in Solid Works CAD, EDPM/vault, Solidworks Visualize, Solidworks Composer, Keyshot 10, and MS Office.
• Strong attention to detail and revision control
• Excellent photography and digital photo manipulation skills required.
• Proficiency in PowerPoint, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is required.
• Must be proactive, self-motivated, have effective communication skills, and possess the ability produce consistently accurate work quickly and effectively under strict deadlines.
• This position requires surge support of extended hours on short notice to meet critical proposal production schedules and other tight deadlines. Specifically, this will occasionally require night and weekend support.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• DOD and or Aerospace experience is a plus.
• Rhino and other CAD experience a plus.
• Able to take constructive criticism and react immediately to implement creative decisions to that refine output in the direction of customer feedback while maintaining AV style guidelines.
• Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties.
• Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives.
• Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products.
• Has effective problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Focuses on teamwork, collaboration and puts the success of the team above one's own interests.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office environment (Hybrid).
• 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:

$56,500 - $86,250

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

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. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or a person approved for an export license from the appropriate governing agency.