The salary range for this role is: $122,500 - $187,000
Employment
full time
Employer job description
From AeroVironment's posting. “We” and “our” refer to the employer.
Worker Type
Regular
Job Description
Summary
The Lead Airworthiness (AW) & Safety Engineer Leads airworthiness and product safety activities for complex Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) throughout the product lifecycle. Develops certification strategies, plans, requirements, and compliance approaches supporting military and civil authorities. Coordinates cross-functional engineering teams to resolve safety and certification requirements and support flight releases and continued airworthiness.
Engages with customers, regulatory agencies, and senior leadership on certification, audits, RFIs, and RFPs.
Position Responsibilities
Develops and performs technical airworthiness and product safety planning, internally driven, customer contract and regulatory driven
Product requirements development support based on expected market, customer, and regulatory requirements
Verification support including development of airworthiness and product safety approach, plans, basis of certifications, means of compliance, and certification activities for complex total systems
Ensures the logical and systematic realization of customer airworthiness and product safety compliance into UAS solutions to meet program and business objectives (e.g. flight releases, military certification, type certification and supplemental type certifications, continued airworthiness, and operational or airspace Integration)
Reviews and coordinates with engineering disciplines at all levels of total system including concept development, requirements, design, test, manufacturing, operation, maintenance and disposal
Works with both military and civil airworthiness authorities for certification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
Facilitates changes to product designs, testing, analyses, maintenance, operations and documentation in order to satisfy certification and product safety requirements
Supports Field Service Bulletin and Problem Report support related to Airworthiness and product safety
Tracks and reports product improvements that provide airworthiness certification value, resolve airworthiness or product safety deficiencies or improve airworthiness or safety of products
Participates with other senior managers to establish strategic plans and objectives
Leads Airworthiness efforts with the support of broad cross-functional teams
Facilitates customer Safety and AW Accreditation audits supporting company processes
Supports Requests for Information (RFI) and Request for Proposals (RFP) in the Airworthiness and Product Safety capacity
Communicates AV’s AW and Product Safety position to Customer and Regulatory bodies
BS degree in Engineering required is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
Minimum of 8+ years of directly related experience
A minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in Airworthiness related work
Experienced in and has demonstrated strong systems engineering background
Experienced working in a highly technical, fast-paced environment with both Domestic and International customers
Has a detailed understanding of Military, FAA, EU, NATO, and EASA airworthiness and certification processes and standards
Understanding of US Government and international safety requirements (UL, CE, REACH, RoHS, etc)
Has a proven track record of performance on successful programs
Experience communicating with executive level management, Customers, and Customer AW authorities
Takes initiative to own tasks and can perform with little/no daily management or oversight
Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies
A minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in Product Safety related work desired
Prior experience with Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Unmanned Systems in general desired
Interactions frequently involve special skills, such as negotiating with customers or management or attempting to influence senior level leaders regarding matters of significance to the organization
Demonstrates strong computer skills and proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Outstanding Leadership skills and experience in a highly technical environment is desire
Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills
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
Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company
Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances
Inspires, motivates and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees
Physical Demands
Ability to work in an office 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)
Willing to travel both domestically and internationally as required (<10% of the time)
Clearance Level
No Clearance
The salary range for this role is:
$122,500 - $187,000
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.
Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.
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.
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