Worker Type
Regular
Job Description
AV is looking for a highly talented Engineering Operations Lead to support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Targets and Countermeasures Program Directorate (MDA/DTT) within the Chief Engineer / Targets Systems Engineering Division (MDA/DTTE). In this role, you will serve as the central operational integrator and technical synchronization point for Targets Systems Engineering. You will manage high-tempo executive engineering rhythms, direct tasker operations through government systems (e.g. Enhanced Tasking Management System 2 (ETMS2)), coordinate major lifecycle and governance baseline documentation, and orchestrate cross-directorate communications across Targets stakeholders, prime contractors, and partner organizations.
Job Description:
- Executive Engineering Battle Rhythm & Operational Briefings
- Targets Systems Engineering (DTTE) Weekly Staff: Manage end-to-end rhythm for weekly division staff meetings. Coordinate chart inputs, consolidate technical presentations on the portal, manage facility logistics, and deliver pre-brief packages to key leadership.
- Agency-Level Integration (MDA/DE SE Weekly Staff): Coordinate, synthesize, and submit executive updates on requirements baselines, schedule changes, and technical accomplishments to the MDA Directorate for Engineering (DE).
- Directorate Staff Calls (DTT Bi-Weekly): Aggregate and format Directorate-wide programmatic and technical status briefings for the Program Director and Front Office leadership.
- Engineering Technical Reviews (ETR): Track, de-conflict, and report 30/60/90-day major target program technical milestone reviews across target portfolios to DE. Harvest and deliver post-review Executive Summaries to agency leadership within required timeframes.
- Tasker & Workflow Management (ETMS2 Action Officer)
- Action Officer Operations: Serve as the primary DTTE Action Officer in the Enhanced Tasking Management System 2 (ETMS2). Triage, distribute, monitor, and drive timely closure for Congressional, OSD, and internal agency active taskers.
- Classified & Sensitive Tasking: Handle, ingest, and route classified and unclassified tasker inputs across SIPRNet and NIPRNet repositories with strict adherence to OPSEC and handling guidelines.
- Public Release & Media Requests: Process and facilitate Industry Requests for Media Engagement and MDA Public Release (PR) packages. Coordinate reviews with Acquisition, Legal, and Strategic Communications, drafting Staff Summary Sheets.
- Annual Historical Summaries & Data Calls: Lead the annual DTTE Historical Summary collection and coordinate inputs for Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) data calls and technical conference attendance nominations.
- Systems Engineering Governance & Lifecycle Documentation
- Cost Analysis Requirements Description (CARD): Serve as lead operational integrator for the annual DT Targets CARD update supporting the President's Budget submit to Congress. Conduct kickoff alignments across project management shops (Logistics, Acquisition, Contracts, Software, Cyber, and IMTP Manifest teams). Consolidate classified and unclassified appendices, adjudicate comments via Form 100, generate Staff Summary Sheets, and shepherd packages through executive sign-off.
- PESHE Program Maintenance: Manage biennial updates to the Programmatic Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health Evaluation (PESHE) in coordination with Targets Quality (DTOQ) and Environmental Management (DSF).
- Baseline Plans & SOP Governance: Oversee the review cycle, administrative accuracy, Form 100 comment matrix adjudication, formal routing, and publishing of core program documentation.
- Data Management & Configuration Control: Maintain configuration-controlled baseline archives on designated agency SharePoint portals, DOD365 environments, and SIPR shared networks.
Required:
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or an equivalent technical/scientific discipline specifically related to area of specialty
- 10+ years of related professional experience
- A degree may be preferred at this level
- Active DoD Secret clearance (U.S. Citizenship required)
- Must be able to maintain clearance and access to classified environments (SIPRNet)
- Demonstrated track record managing operational battle rhythms, executive briefing consolidation, and technical meeting execution for senior military and civilian leaders
- Direct experience tracking and adjudicating review comments utilizing formal systems (e.g., DoD Form 100 comment matrices)
- Familiarity with DoD acquisition lifecycle documentation (e.g., CARD, SEP, RMP, PESHE, TEMP)
- Strong administrative rigor in routing executive correspondence, Staff Summary Sheets (SSS), and official action packages
- Expert proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint)
- Working knowledge of task tracking systems (ETMS2 or similar DoD correspondence management tools)
Desired:
- Master's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Technical Management, or a related Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) discipline
- 12+ years of professional experience supporting DoD / federal program offices, preferably in a SETA, Advisory & Assistance Services (A&AS), or Systems Engineering & Integration (SE&I) capacity
- Prior direct experience supporting the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), specifically the Targets and Countermeasures Directorate (DTT) or Engineering Directorate (DE).
- Working familiarity DoW / MDA workflows
- Experience coordinating across multi-organization teams including US Army DEVCOM (S3I), prime target hardware vendors, and national labs/FFRDCs
- Proven ability to operate semi-autonomously, establish deadlines, and effectively de-conflict competing technical and programmatic priorities under tight turnarounds
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 will be asked to provide specific documentation to verify U.S. person status under the ITAR and the EAR. A “U.S. person” according to their 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, 401(k) with company matching, and flexible work schedule options. Depending on your business unit, role, and customer contract requirements, select programs may offer a 9/80 work schedule and paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.
We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.
Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.
Who We Are
Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.
Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.
What We Do
Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.
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
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or an equivalent technical or scientific discipline related to the specialty
- 10+ years of related professional experience
- Active DoD Secret clearance and U.S. citizenship
- Ability to maintain clearance and access classified SIPRNet environments
- Experience managing operational battle rhythms, executive briefing consolidation, and technical meeting execution for senior military and civilian leaders
- Experience tracking and adjudicating review comments using formal systems such as DoD Form 100 comment matrices
- Familiarity with DoD acquisition lifecycle documentation, including CARD, SEP, RMP, PESHE, and TEMP
- Strong administrative rigor in routing executive correspondence, Staff Summary Sheets, and official action packages
- Expert proficiency in Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint
- Working knowledge of ETMS2 or similar DoD correspondence management tools
- Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Technical Management, or related STEM discipline
- 12+ years of professional experience supporting DoD or federal program offices
- Experience supporting the Missile Defense Agency Targets and Countermeasures or Engineering Directorates
- Familiarity with DoD and MDA workflows
- Experience coordinating multi-organization teams involving DEVCOM, prime contractors, national laboratories, or FFRDCs
- Ability to operate semi-autonomously, establish deadlines, and de-conflict competing priorities under tight turnarounds
AeroVironment Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about AeroVironment and has not been reviewed or approved by AeroVironment.
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Healthcare Strength — Benefits include multiple medical plan options with HSA pairing and employer contributions, plus company-paid life and disability coverage. Feedback suggests health coverage quality and breadth are consistently seen as strong.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with generous matching and immediate vesting, alongside programs like an ESPP and deferred compensation for eligible employees, signals robust retirement support. Feedback suggests the retirement offering stands out within the total rewards package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Discretionary Time Off for eligible salaried employees, paid sick leave, parental leave supplements, holidays, and a 9/80 schedule provide broad time-off flexibility. Feedback suggests these options enhance work-life balance when team norms support their use.
AeroVironment Insights
What We Do
At AV, we build shoulder-to-shoulder with our customers, delivering systems shaped by real-world missions, not theoretical requirements. Now stronger than ever, we deliver integrated capabilities across every domain of modern warfare—from autonomous systems and loitering munitions to space-based platforms, directed energy, cyber and electronic warfare. We build to win today’s battles and shape tomorrow’s conflicts.
