Senior Manager, Electrical Engineering - Space Technologies

Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary The Senior Electrical Engineering Manager is an engineering leader responsible for driving electrical engineering execution across the full product lifecycle for space electronics, laser communications, sensors, and related aerospace/defense systems. This leader is responsible for building and leading a high-performing organization with the technical depth and ability to support development, qualification, production, and sustainment in a competitive space electronics market. The role provides leadership to managers and professional staff, develops departmental plans based on business and organizational priorities, and drives strategy in the electrical engineering team. Position Responsibilities Lead and manage a team of 20+ electrical engineering professionals and subordinate managers to include staffing, workload planning, performance management, mentoring, and career development Lead development of a growing electrical engineering team, ensuring staffing requirements are met through hiring and continuous training programs that build technical capability and team capacity Support planning and execution in coordination with program management, including schedule, resource, and technical performance considerations Responsible for electrical engineering performance on technical programs. Lead ongoing development of internal electrical engineering design standards and practices Provide strategic direction for developing custom electronics solutions for space-qualified applications Oversee electrical design software and simulation tool usage (Altium, SPICE, MATLAB, HyperLynx, etc…) Ensure adherence to space qualification standards, IPC standards, and relevant aerospace/defense requirements for electrical design and fabrication Ensure adherence to company processes, engineering discipline, and operational policies while driving practical, executable solutions Required Skills & Experience Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field. 10+ years of progressive electrical engineering experience in aerospace, defense, or space systems, with at least 3 years of leadership or management experience Demonstrated ability to organize, lead, and develop a high performing electrical engineering department. Experience managing subordinate managers Experience leading electrical engineering activities across the product lifecycle, including requirements management, design, analysis, integration, test, and production transition for complex systems Demonstrated experience in design, analysis, integration, and test of custom electronics Experience conducting circuit analysis and simulation to optimize performance and reliability, including electrical stress analysis and worst-case circuit analysis Proficiency in electrical design software and simulation tools (such as Altium, SPICE, MATLAB, Simulink, HyperLynx, and MS Office) Ability to manage departmental budget and resource allocation Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field Understanding of space qualification standards and requirements (NASA, MIL-STD, etc.) Experience designing custom electronics for space products Experience producing or overseeing PCB layouts and understanding of PCB manufacturing and assembly processes Understanding of relevant IPC standards needed for electrical design and fabrication of printed circuit boards Experience deriving sub-assembly requirements from higher-level, flowed-down, system requirements and defining test methodologies Experience with laser communications systems, space sensors, or imaging/sensing electronics Experience with EVMS or similar program execution frameworks, including technical status integration with cost and schedule performance Strong customer-facing skills, including the ability to lead technical discussions, present clearly to customers and leadership, and resolve issues across organizational boundaries Experience providing clear technical status, risk, and progress reporting to internal and external stakeholders Strong written and verbal communication skills necessary to present to internal and external stakeholders Demonstrated ability to build trust, influence decisions, persuade others in sensitive complex situations while preserving relationships, and lead through change in a fast-paced environment Ability to obtain and maintain a US security clearance Physical Demands Ability to work in an office and production 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) Clearance Level No Clearance The salary range for this role is: $128,000 - $195,250 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. 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