Vice President, Operations - Autonomous Systems

AV; Simi Valley (CA); On-site; USD 246,000 - 393,000; Full time

Job summary

AV is seeking a Vice President, Operations — AxS, to be the senior executive accountable for end-to-end tactical operational execution across AeroVironment’s Autonomous Systems Segment. You will translate customer demand into executable supply, ensure on-time delivery, and drive daily flow, quality, schedule, cost, and readiness across multiple product lines.

Reporting to the President, AxS, you will lead planning, production control, purchasing, materials, logistics, quality, R&O, and

Qualifications

• 15+ years in operations, with 10+ years leading teams.
• Proven leadership of multi-site aerospace/defense operations.
• Experience scaling production and launching new products.
• Knowledge of defense acquisition, quality, export-control and regulatory requirements.
• Able to travel 25–40% domestically and internationally.
• Ability to obtain security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end fulfillment and delivery.
• Lead segment operations strategy and execution.
• Manage manufacturing, production control and material readiness.
• Oversee SIOP, planning and ERP discipline.
• Ensure quality, mission assurance and regulatory compliance.
• Drive industrialization and NPIs; lead cross-functional teams.

Skills

Executive leadership

Operations management

Strategic planning

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

MBA preferred

Tools

MRP/ERP

MES/PLM

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Role Overview The Vice President, Operations — AxS is the senior executive accountable for end-to-end tactical operational execution across AeroVironment’s Autonomous Systems Segment. The role ensures that customer and program demand is translated through the enterprise resource planning system into an executable supply response, stable factory performance, on-time product delivery, and effective customer sustainment. This leader owns daily flow, quality, schedule, cost, cash, and operational readiness across a complex, multi-business-unit portfolio of autonomous air, ground, maritime, loitering-munition, and related mission systems.

Reporting to the President, AxS, the VP, Operations leads and integrates segment operations across planning, production control, purchasing execution, manufacturing, materials, logistics, quality, sales, inventory and operations planning (SIOP), inventory, repair and overhaul (R&O), and manufacturing engineering. The VP works in close partnership with Business Unit leaders, Program Management, Engineering, Finance, Business Development, and the Global Operations organization to deliver current customer commitments while scaling capacity, industrializing new products, and strengthening the segment’s operating system.

Role Charter:

Run the AxS operating system: deliver to customers today, ensure daily flow and quality, and execute to plan. Partner with Global Operations to standardize and improve the enterprise systems, capabilities, and controls that enable sustained performance.

Operating Scope and Organizational Accountability

The VP owns the smooth, connected execution of the full operations fulfillment workflow and is accountable for resolving breakdowns at the interfaces between demand, planning, supply, production, delivery, and sustainment. Direct and matrixed accountability includes the following AxS operating functions:

• Planning and SIOP: Demand translation, capacity and constraint planning, executive alignment, scenario management, and commitment setting.
• Production Control: Work-order release, schedule control, priority management, shortage escalation, and factory cadence.
• Purchasing Execution: MRP execution, purchase-order placement and follow-up, supplier commitments, line-down prevention, and tactical recovery.
• Materials, Inventory, and Logistics: Material readiness, inventory accuracy and turns, warehousing, kitting, material movement, packaging, and shipment.
• Manufacturing: Assembly, integration, test, visual management, labor performance, throughput, safety, and daily execution.
• Quality: Quality engineering, inspection and control, product conformance, corrective action, and prevention of escapes.
• Manufacturing Engineering: Routings, work instructions, tooling, process readiness, producibility, and transition to production.
• Repair and Overhaul: Field-return evaluation, repair, overhaul, replenishment, turnaround time, and sustainment execution.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-End Fulfillment & Delivery
• Segment Operations Strategy & Execution
• Manufacturing, Production Control & Material Readiness
• SIOP, Planning & ERP Discipline
• Quality, Mission Assurance & Compliance
• Industrialization & New Product Introduction
• Operational Excellence & Technology
• Customer, Program & Cross-Functional Leadership
• Financial & Talent Leadership
• Partnership with Global Operations

Key Metrics of Success

Safety; on-time delivery and schedule attainment; quality and yield; material readiness and supplier performance; cost, productivity, and cost of poor quality; flow, lead time, and throughput; inventory turns and working capital; industrialization/NPI success; people and leadership metrics including engagement, retention, safety culture, and bench strength.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations management, supply chain, business, or related field, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in operations, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, or related fields, including 10+ years leading leaders.
• Proven leadership of complex, multi-site operations in aerospace & defense, autonomous systems, or similarly regulated, mission-critical manufacturing.
• Experience managing operations at scale across multiple product lines/programs/business units with direct accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and working capital.
• Demonstrated success scaling production, stabilizing constrained operations, launching new products, and leading cross-functional transformation or recovery.
• Working knowledge of defense acquisition/contracting, and applicable quality, export-control, cybersecurity, and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to travel 25–40% domestically and internationally.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MBA, M.S. in Engineering, Operations, or Supply Chain).
• Lean/Six Sigma leadership experience; Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent preferred.
• Experience with SIOP/S&OP, MRP, ERP transformation, MES, PLM, digital manufacturing, automation, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Experience supporting U.S. DoD and international defense customers under FFP, cost-type, IDIQ, and multi-year contracts, including audits and production readiness reviews.
• Experience in repair, overhaul, field sustainment, and lifecycle support operations.
• Strong financial acumen (budgets, capital allocation, business cases, standard cost, productivity, inventory, working capital).

Leadership Competencies

• Converts long-term strategy into disciplined daily execution.
• Acts decisively under uncertainty; mobilizes rapid recovery when commitments are at risk.
• Operates with an enterprise mindset across segments, sites, and global functions.
• Maintains operational credibility from factory floor to executive/customer/government engagements.
• Leads change across organization, process, technology, and footprint.
• Inspires and develops teams; creates clarity and accountability; prioritizes mission and team success.
• Demonstrates integrity, transparency, ownership, resilience, and a commitment to learning.

Work Environment

Regular presence in manufacturing, integration, test, lab, warehouse, and office settings; comfortable moving between executive reviews and point-of-work engagement. May support extended hours for critical recoveries, customer milestones, or surge requirements. AeroVironment is an equal opportunity employer.

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$245,500 - $393,000

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. Citizenship required