Sr. Manager, Hardware Engineering jobs in United States
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AV · 23 hours ago

Sr. Manager, Hardware Engineering

AeroVironment (AV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems and tactical missile systems. The Sr. Manager, Hardware and Systems Engineering is responsible for leading a multidisciplinary team to develop and integrate advanced underwater robotic systems, ensuring they meet the needs of Commercial and Defense customers.

AerospaceAir TransportationDronesElectric VehicleElectronicsEnergyGovernmentManufacturing
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Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team. Drive professional growth through active coaching, ensuring the team remains at the forefront of subsea engineering innovation
Develop and implement standardized engineering tools and "best-in-class" processes (CAD/EDA, JAMA, PDM, PLM, Simulation) to streamline the transition from concept to production
Manage staffing levels, budgets, and resource allocation to align with the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and research, development, and production goals
Drive Agile methodologies within hardware development to ensure rapid iteration, sustaining product support, and timely execution of complex engineering programs
Provide deep technical guidance in the design of pressure-tolerant housings, power distribution, propulsion systems, and sensor integration
Lead the "formalization of the informal" by resolving technical debt, legacy drawing inaccuracies, and undocumented design decisions
Establish rigorous process and procedures for engineering changes (ECO/ECN), version control, and peer reviews to ensure scalable, production-ready quality
Serve as the primary bridge between Business Leads, Product, Engineering, Production, and External Stakeholders to ensure customer requirements are met with precision and reliability
Continuous improvement of hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, systems integration, and environmental qualification
Other duties as assigned

Qualification

Hardware DevelopmentSystems EngineeringLeadershipAerospace ExperienceAgile MethodologiesProblem SolvingCommunicationTeam Management

Required

12+ years of progressive engineering experience, with at least 5+ years in a formal leadership or management role overseeing multidisciplinary hardware and systems teams
BS in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, or other Engineering Disciplines
Proven experience in Aerospace, Defense, or Subsea/Robotics hardware development
Demonstrated success taking complex hardware from initial concept through design, integration, environmental testing (Vibration, Thermal, Pressure), and into high-rate production
Strong understanding of Systems Engineering principles (requirements traceability, risk management, and interface control)
Proven ability to transform 'tribal knowledge' into scalable, documented processes and formal engineering procedures
Experience managing the balance between rapid innovation and the necessity of disciplined documentation and configuration management
Willingness to roll up sleeves to assist the team in solving immediate technical hurdles while simultaneously building the long-term systems to prevent them
Exceptional ability to translate complex technical challenges into actionable business insights for executive leadership
U.S. Citizenship is required due to defense contract requirements

Preferred

Master's degree preferred
Familiarity with ruggedized electronics and systems operating in harsh environments is highly preferred

Benefits

Medical
Dental vision
401K with company matching
A 9/80 work schedule
A paid holiday shutdown

Company

At AV, we build shoulder-to-shoulder with our customers, delivering systems shaped by real-world missions, not theoretical requirements.

Funding

Current Stage
Public Company
Total Funding
$1.68B
2025-07-01Post Ipo Equity· $875M
2025-07-01Post Ipo Debt· $650M
2023-09-19Post Ipo Equity· $109.01M

Leadership Team

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Wahid Nawabi
Chairman, President & CEO
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Johnathan Jones
Senior Vice President
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Company data provided by crunchbase