Contracts Administrator

Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary The Contracts Administrator supports the mission of the AV Contracts Department by providing excellence in Contracts Administration to internal and external customers. One possesses basic knowledge and understanding of professional Contracts Administration within the aerospace and defense industry. The Contracts Administrator supports the bid, capture and contract negotiation processes, and then ensures efficient performance throughout the life of each contract, supporting amendments, data entry, contract closeouts and interpretations as necessary. Detail-orientation and responsiveness are key in this position. Position Responsibilities Work closely with Operations, the Contracts team and their immediate management chain, as well as other functions including Sales, Strategy and Marketing, Finance, and the Legal team on bid and proposal preparation, contract negotiation, contract review and administration for new and sustaining products and services. Perform contract administrative duties throughout the contract lifecycle including, but not limited to, proposal review and preparation, leading pre and post award negotiations, executing contract modifications, initiating contract close-outs and providing overall contracts support to assigned programs. Support reviewing and redlining various agreements such as, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Sales/Purchase Agreements, Subcontracts, Master Agreements, and other Contractual agreements, such as FAR based contracts, OTAs, etc. Support contract negotiations with contracts leadership. Support contracts leaders ensuring that agreements/terms and conditions comply with all applicable regulations and requirements, while also adhering to company policies and escalating questions or concerns to their leadership. Serve as point-of-contact for assigned customer portfolio and serve as customer interface on pre-contract and active contract activities Monitor the performance of long-term contracts and agreements. Analyze and concisely summarizes contractual obligations, commitments, and performance for internal stakeholders. Coordinates flow-downs of terms and conditions with all functional departments including program management, engineering, product support, finance, quality, supply chain management, manufacturing, as required. Assist Contracts Managers in ensuring the company compliance with the terms and conditions. Maintains an accurate audit file for each contract which will include original contract, all correspondence, changes/deviations, modification/amendments, clarifications, etc. Review uploaded contracts related data in business systems to ensure data is accurate and complete. Supports maintenance and retrieval of contract documents/files and validated data, preparation of reports and participation in status reviews Research and provide recommendations on addressing contract related problems of limited scope. Follows standard practices and procedures in analyzing situations or data from which answers can be readily obtained Other duties, as assigned Locations & Work Schedule AV offers a 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off) as well as a hybrid schedule (office & home). We are very flexible regarding which AV office you are assigned to, and we would consider any of these 5 locations: Annapolis Junction, MD Albuquerque, NM Germantown, MD Dayton, OH Simi Valley, CA Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience) Associates and/or Bachelor degree in Business Administration is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience Minimum 1-3 years relevant experience. Prior experience in an aerospace/defense/government contracting environment is preferred Presently hold or capable of obtaining a U.S. Security Clearance (Secret, Top Secret Preferred). Demonstrated knowledge of federal acquisition process, government contracting principles and regulations (e.g., FAR, DFARS, contract-specific flow-downs, etc.) required Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies Demonstrates skill at multi-tasking and prioritization of workload Demonstrates basic negotiation and conflict resolution skills Provides the highest customer service experience to our domestic and international customers and internal customers Works well with varying seniority levels, including staff, managers and external partners Highly organized individual with the ability to conduct business in a professional manner. Process-oriented, results and deadline-driven; Professional appearance and conduct at all times 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 Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company Good written and verbal communication skills. Good analytical, time management and organizational skills. Good computer skills and proficiency with office software such as Microsoft Office Suite, to include, Word, PowerPoint and Excel and productivity tools. 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 Ability to sit, stand, stoop, reach, lift (up to 10 lbs.), bend, etc. Hand and wrist dexterity to utilize the computer. May require travel to sites/program and special functions. Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance: Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating. May have some exposure to outside environment while traveling. Special Requirements You must be a U.S. Citizen Must be able to travel within the Continental U.S. when required. Clearance Level No Clearance The salary range for this role is: $70,500 - $100,275 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: 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. Must be willing to work on government contracts and have the ability to obtain a security clearance. 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. Careers at AeroVironment