Visionary Senior VP, Space & Defense Engineering

Space, Cyber and Directed Energy Segment Vice President of Engineering Position Summary The Space, Cyber and Directed Energy Segment Vice President of Engineering serves as the senior engineering authority for the segment and is responsible for establishing the technical vision, engineering rigor, and product development discipline required to support a rapidly scaling portfolio of defense and national security programs. This leader oversees a diverse mix of engineering services and product-based businesses, balancing lightweight governance for mature service programs with rigorous systems engineering, execution oversight, and technical risk management for high-priority product development efforts. The role partners closely with the business leadership, CTO, program management, manufacturing, and growth teams to ensure engineering excellence, product commonality, rapid deployment capability, affordability, and successful transition from development into scalable production. The Vice President of Engineering will help mature the segment engineering organization over time, including the future establishment and leadership of Chief Engineers aligned to business units and major product lines. Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership & Engineering Governance Serve as the senior engineering authority across the segment portfolio. Establish engineering standards, technical review processes, and development rigor appropriate for both services and product organizations. Ensure technical execution aligns with customer mission requirements, affordability targets, schedule commitments, and long-term product strategy. Drive engineering best practices across systems engineering, software, hardware, integration, test, cybersecurity, reliability, and manufacturing readiness. Lead independent technical assessments and support executive decision-making related to technical risk, investment priorities, and program execution. Product Development & Productization Support the transition from bespoke engineering efforts to scalable, repeatable product solutions. Ensure engineering organizations are structured to move rapidly while maintaining technical discipline and mission assurance. Promote modular architectures, common product frameworks, reuse strategies, and product commonality across programs. Partner with manufacturing and operations teams to improve producibility, reliability, and lifecycle affordability. Drive engineering alignment with enterprise initiatives focused on speed, agility, commercialization, and rapid deployment. Partnership with CTO & Enterprise Engineering Alignment Partner directly with the CTO to flow enterprise engineering strategies, processes, tools, and governance into the segment. Support implementation of common engineering frameworks, digital engineering approaches, model‑based systems engineering, and enterprise product development standards. Ensure engineering organizations adopt enterprise technology roadmaps and modernization initiatives where appropriate. Talent Strategy & Organizational Development Support engineering workforce planning, hiring strategies, succession planning, and capability development across the segment. Monitor engineering staffing requirements against strategic growth objectives. Help shape future engineering organizational structures, including eventual establishment of Chief Engineer roles aligned to business units or product portfolios. Foster a culture centered on accountability, innovation, technical excellence, collaboration, and mission focus. Cross‑Functional Collaboration Partner closely with: Business Unit leaders Program Management Manufacturing & Supply Chain Quality Finance Growth & Capture Security and Contracts Support customer engagements, technical roadmap discussions, milestone reviews, and strategic captures. Participate in executive operating rhythms including program reviews, investment reviews, and annual operating planning activities. Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field required; advanced degree preferred. 15+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience within defense, aerospace, space, directed energy, RF systems, autonomous systems, or related national security sectors. Demonstrated experience leading complex engineering organizations supporting both development and production environments. Strong background in systems engineering, product development, and transition to manufacturing. Experience operating within high‑growth, fast‑paced technology organizations. Ability to balance technical rigor with speed and execution urgency. Experience collaborating across enterprise engineering and business leadership organizations. Strong communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with executives, customers, and technical teams. Top Secret/SCI Clearance or the ability to obtain a clearance. Preferred Experience Experience supporting defense acquisition programs, rapid prototyping efforts, and productized defense systems. Familiarity with digital engineering, model‑based systems engineering (MBSE), and modern product development environments. Experience scaling engineering organizations following acquisition or integration activities. Background supporting products transitioning from R&D into operational deployment and production scale‑up. Leadership Expectations People First Culture Results & Ownership Innovate & Simplify Dedicated to Customers Evolve to Dominate Clearance Level

TS/SCI

Salary Range $245,500 - $361,200 ITAR Requirement This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic in 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. Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen for some positions or obtain an export license in a timeframe consistent with company needs. 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, 401(k) with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. EEO Statement 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr AV