Manufacturing Engineering Technician III

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

The Manufacturing Engineering Technician III role at AeroVironment involves a blend of responsibilities across manufacturing engineering, engineering development, new product introduction (NPI), and tooling design. The successful candidate will be hands-on in the early stages of building new engineering product prototypes, as well as Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) builds. This individual will provide Design for Excellence (DFX), and design and implement tooling and fixtures with the aid of drafting resources. They will ensure that learnings from early product builds are integrated into a production-ready package. This role is critical in transitioning new product introductions into mature full-rate production stages. Additionally, the candidate must possess excellent collaboration skills to ensure continuous feedback with various engineering teams and production staff.

Position Responsibilities

• Hands-on building and assembly of early units of new products with engineering support.
• Conduct mechanical, electrical, and composite fabrication, troubleshooting, repair, and testing of integrated systems.
• Ensure a smooth transition from product development to manufacturing, focusing on cost, quality, and supply chain logistics.
• Collaborate with suppliers and contract manufacturers to ensure receipt of conforming parts and assemblies.
• Work effectively with engineering teams and production staff to provide and receive continuous, regular feedback.
• Provide rapid prototyping fabrication and assembly services to build prototype product hardware.
• Design, develop, and implement tooling, including assembly fixtures, fabrication fixtures, and molds.
• Perform DFX, cost, and reliability analysis on new products in collaboration with design engineering teams.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing processes, including creating and updating work instructions, assembly procedures, and supporting documentation.
• Lead efforts in lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodology to achieve continuous improvement in productivity, quality, and lead times.
• Incorporate lessons learned from NPI and early product builds into efficient production processes.
• Implement ergonomic design considerations to ensure safe, effective, and productive tool usage.
• Maintain shop equipment and tools in a safe, clean, and organized environment for development and production activities.
• Track and report Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including build linearity and transition rates from NPI to full production.
• Work on problems of diverse scope requiring analysis of identifiable factors.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 5-8 years of experience in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, or Test Engineering, with experience in Aerospace, Automotive, or Commercial industries.
• Experience in Lean Manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodology.
• Proficiency with electro-mechanical manufacturing, engineering drawings, procedures, and Bill of Materials.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and CAD software (SolidWorks preferred).
• Occasional travel required (up to 25%).

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Experience in sheet metal fabrication, plastics, composite layups, PCB assembly, mechanical assembly, calibration, and testing processes.
• Strong problem-solving ability, root cause analysis skills, and ability to work independently.
• High levels of initiative, ownership, and responsibility for work products.
• Commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
• Effective time management, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Teamwork and collaboration-oriented mindset.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.
• Required to sit and stand for long periods, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard.
• Capable of lifting up to 50 pounds and handling varying sizes and shapes of parts.
• Compliance with safety standards and guidelines.

Environmental Conditions Critical To Performance:

• Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating.

Special Requirements

• U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), per ITAR definition.

This job description outlines critical responsibilities and requirements for the Manufacturing Engineering Technician III position at AeroVironment. The successful candidate will be key in transitioning innovative products from prototype to full-scale production, tracking and reporting KPIs such as build linearity and transition rates, and fostering collaborative feedback across engineering and production teams.

The salary range for this role is:

$89,630 - $127,050

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:  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

U.S. Citizenship required