AV is looking for a Senior Principal RF Engineer to join the Kinetic Interceptor team. The Senior Principal RF Engineering role will work across a broad range of disciplines with an emphasis on product development, analysis and testing, and system integration. Responsibilities include developing and evaluating RF seeker design efforts, scheduling and planning required tasks, leading and mentoring a diverse team and leading integration efforts to support milestone reviews.
Youd Like to Do This
Ensure technical integrity and engineering execution across the IPT and other functions to meet and/or exceed cost, schedule, and technical requirements
Represent AV and program interests with senior customer counterparts, internal senior program management and engineering leadership
Technically engage with major subcontractors and partners to ensure product deliverables
Direct and lead a diverse team of multi-disciplined engineers in support of missile development
Provide mentoring, guidance and direction to junior engineers from conceptual design through release of technical data package
Design, test, and/or integration of RF seeker components, RF ground support equipment (EGSE), subsystems, or system-of-systems
Lead internal design reviews, and support major customer reviews
Assist with program schedule creation and hardware development planning
Develop engineering labor and material estimates
Qualifications:
You must be a US citizen
Have a B.S. with 15 years of prior relevant experience in Electrical Engineering or a related disciplines
You must have a Secret level security clearance.
Prior experience with leading and conducting missile trade studies, missile system development and design, missile systems requirements development and management, and missile system integration and test
Experience leading and executing the design and development of complex system architectures
Demonstrated experience across the product lifecycle, including concept development, architecture, design, integration, verification, and production
Experience in strategic development, customer interface, or contract capture in the Defense Industry
Demonstrated experience interacting with and influencing Department of Defense (DoD), and/or commercial and non-traditional customer sets
Experience developing effective internal and external customer relationships to ensure customer satisfaction and continued business
Experience managing resources with multi-million-dollar annual budgets
Direct experience with Engineering Risks and Opportunities (R&O) Management
Capable of performing in a fast paced, dynamic environment
Are willing and able to travel occasionally to attend meetings or tests at other government and contractor sites.
Excellent people skills to include communication and collaborating in a multi-disciplinary cross functional team environments
Understanding and application of industry electrical engineering technical standards; demonstrated electrical component design experience
Experience with classified test systems or systems subject to cyber security policies and risk management framework (RMF) engineering technical standards
Preferred Qualifications:
Have 12 years with a M.S. or 10 years with PhD of prior relevant experience in Electrical Engineering or a related disciplines
Experience leading system-of-system design and integration efforts with a diverse team
Experience developing and releasing formal engineering documentation including technical drawings, specifications, and test procedures
Experience with mission critical and safety critical systems, components, connectors, cables, etc.
Familiarity with MIL-STD-1901A, MIL-STD-882, EWR-127, RCC 319, RCC 324, DoDEA 8510.01, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-464, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3ab, ECSS-ST-50-11C
Clearance Level
SecretThe salary range for this role is:
$160,000 - $226,800AeroVironment 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 youre 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 is required. Secret or Top Secret clearance, or the ability obtain a clearance is desired.