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InvestedintheMission

Sr. Staff Systems Engineer

simi valley, CA

Check who can apply and the requirements below before continuing.

About this opportunity

InvestedintheMission lists this Sr. Staff Systems Engineer opportunity in simi valley, California. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary: The Sr. Staff Systems Engineer works with our Design Team to develop a variety of innovative Uncrewed Systems for defense and commercial applications.

This position will interact with Design Engineers to allocate requirements and influence and develop system architecture, and tests to support customer needs.

These development efforts will generally be carried out by small, focused design teams, which will require engineers to use a range of skills and tools across traditional engineering, computer science, and mathematical disciplines.

Because of the nature of these development efforts, the engineer will need to work on a variety of stages of development, including requirements definition, concept design, prototyping, detailed system architecture design, validation, and verification testing.

Position Responsibilities

Work closely with program Chief Engineers and IPT leads to support system architecture, design, and test of Uncrewed Systems

Manage requirements traceability and evolution throughout the system development cycle

Provide weekly status of system development progress with requirements burndown

Allocate requirements down to subsystems and establish traceability

Evaluate system performance thresholds and provide direction

Work with Senior Engineers in developing instrumented flight test vectors and data acquisition

Provide input for model development and simulation analysis

Review and interpret customer specifications

Identify, analyze, and resolve system design weaknesses; influence the shaping of future products by contributing to the framework (architecture) used across multiple products or systems

Determine methods and procedures on new assignments and may coordinate activities of other personnel (Team Lead)

Analyze complex data against performance criteria and determine root causes of failures

Perform other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience

12–15 years of relevant experience in a systems engineering or system design role

Experience as a systems architect to influence overall system design

Experience in flight test execution and standardization of flight test processes

Experience in component and system-level testing

Proficiency with C/C++ and MATLAB

Proficiency with office software and computer-based productivity tools

Experience in requirements compliance during test

Experience in requirements allocation from system to subsystem

Experience managing requirements traceability and evolution throughout the system development cycle

Experience providing effective weekly status of system development progress with requirements burndown

Experience evaluating system performance thresholds and providing direction

Familiarity with electronics and systems related to image collection and analysis

Experience developing system test plans, procedures, and reports, and reviewing and interpreting specifications

Experience writing and conducting safety hazard assessments

Experience writing system safety protocols and ensuring personnel safety during field testing

Experience leading and presenting technical content at systems engineering gate reviews to the customer

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

Advanced degree preferred

Experience leading a team of Systems Engineers to support overall execution of Verification &V V campaigns

Experience as a Systems Engineer Integrated Product Team Lead (IPTL)

Experience in risk assessment and risk mitigation

Experience taking a product from concept to production with contract manufacturers and subsystem suppliers

Exposure to Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) systems along with Modeling, Simulation & Control, and Model-Based Systems Engineering is helpful but not required

Knowledge of Simulink, Ansys, and SolidWorks preferred

Interest in creating architectures using Model-Based Engineering tools

Ability to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties

Strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives

Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products

Committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company

Effective problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills

Consistently demonstrates teamwork and collaboration and puts the success of the team above one’s own interests

Physical Demands

Ability to work in an office and manufacturing 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)

Special Requirements

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required.

Must be able to travel within the continental U.S. and internationally, as required.

Clearance Level

No Clearance

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:

We also encourage you to review our company website at 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. Citizenship required

The salary range for this role is: $147,000 - $224,250

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.

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Worksite address

simi valley, CA, 93097, US

Who can apply

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