UAS Chief Engineer- Additive Manufacturing

The UAS Chief Engineer provides technical leadership, strategic direction, and execution oversight for the design, development, integration, and sustainment of advanced additively manufacturing unmanned systems. This role is responsible for end-to-end system engineering across air, ground, maritime, and/or multi-domain unmanned platforms, ensuring mission effectiveness, survivability, cybersecurity resilience, and compliance with applicable defense standards and regulations. The Chief Engineer serves as the primary technical authority for their assigned platform or product area, guiding cross-functional engineering teams, aligning technical roadmaps with customer requirements, and ensuring delivery of high-performance, secure, and reliable systems within cost and schedule constraints. This position works closely with government stakeholders, program management, operations, and executive leadership. Essential Functions Provide overall technical leadership for additive manufactured unmanned system development programs, from concept through deployment and sustainment. Serve as the technical authority for system architecture, design trade studies, integration strategies, and risk management. Research and drive advancements in designs centered around additive manufacturing of UAS across the portfolio Lead system engineering processes including requirements development, decomposition, verification, validation, and configuration management. Oversee multidisciplinary engineering teams (mechanical, electrical, software, controls, AI/ML, autonomy, communications, cybersecurity, and systems engineering). Develop and maintain technical roadmaps aligned with defense customer needs and emerging operational requirements. Ensure compliance with applicable DoD standards, MIL-STDs, airworthiness/safety certifications, cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., RMF), and export regulations (e.g., ITAR/EAR). Direct integration of autonomy, navigation, sensors, communications, propulsion, and payload systems into cohesive, mission-ready platforms. Lead major technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, PRR), ensuring readiness and program maturity at each phase. Identify, assess, and mitigate technical risks related to reliability, survivability, resilience, and mission performance. Support proposal development, customer briefings, and technical strategy discussions with government and defense partners. Foster innovation in autonomy, AI-enabled decision-making, resilient communications, and human-machine teaming. Mentor senior engineering staff and establish best practices in additive manufacturing, systems engineering, and product development. Perform other duties as assigned. Standard Essential Functions Regular and reliable attendance on a full time basis [or in accordance with posted schedule]. Responsible for exhibiting professional behavior with both internal and external business associates that reflects positively on the company and is consistent with the company's policies and practices. Embodies AEVEX’s cultural values and aligns daily actions with department goals and company culture. Qualifications and Competencies Security Clearance-Ability to obtain/maintain a Top Secret/SCI DoD clearance, U.S. Citizenship required. Demonstrated expertise in complex systems engineering for unmanned or autonomous defense systems. Extensive knowledge in additive manufacturing of UAS systems; composites, polymers, metals. Strong working knowledge of DfX principles; Design for Manufacturability, Procurement, Testability, Modularity, Cost. Strong knowledge of platform integration across hardware, embedded systems, software, autonomy, and communications. Proven ability to lead large, multidisciplinary technical teams in a regulated defense environment. Deep understanding of systems architecture, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), and lifecycle management. Familiarity with defense acquisition processes and government contracting environments. Working knowledge of cybe…