Job Description

Worker Type

Regular

The Manufacturing Engineering Supervisor provides Manufacturing Engineering support to internal and external manufacturing facilities to resolve any manufacturing or related issues on sustaining and new products and leads the planning, task management, and execution of engineering activities to ensure accountability to schedule, cost, and quality targets. Ensures product quality and delivery schedule requirements for composite fabrication, composite & mechanical subassemblies, and final integration and testing of systems. Works closely with the other functional leaders and Program Managers to execute key objectives and programs to meet schedules and budgets.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Supports the development, maintenance, and improvement of manufacturing processes with a focus on efficiency and quality

• Helps implement Lean Manufacturing principles and apply Six Sigma methodology to achieve continuous improvement in productivity, quality, and lead time reduction

• Analyzes production metrics (yields, capacity, cost, and process capability) to trigger and lead improvement projects

• Establishes and maintains standard hours and sequence of operations for current and future production processes

• Generates and updates work instructions, assembly procedures, and supporting documentation controlling the manufacturing process

• Participates in root cause analysis and problem solving to resolve issues related to materials, design, equipment, and people

• Works on Manufacturing Strategies and capacity models for new and current products, including estimation and maintenance of capital requisitions

• Participates in the design and development of manufacturing workflows and layout of equipment for maximum efficiency

• Performs cost estimating of new tooling and fixtures required to support production floor; leads Make/Buy analysis and trade studies on assemblies with cross-functional team

• Performs Design for Manufacturing, cost, and reliability analysis on new products with the design engineering team

• Other duties as assigned

Task & Project Management

• Utilizes Jira (or equivalent work management tools) to create, prioritize, assign, and track engineering and production tasks, ensuring alignment with program schedules and milestones.

• Develops and maintains Task Tracking boards, dashboards, and workflows to provide clear visibility of task status, dependencies, and risks to stakeholders and leadership.

• Ensures timely and accurate updating of tasks by the team to support effective planning, forecasting, and resource allocation.

• Leads collaborative engineering improvement activities alongside engineering and suppliers to improve cost, cycle time, or to drive quality improvement activities

• Participates in Design Failures Modes and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) activities as a key contributor in the process.

• Provides guidance to engineering regarding design concepts and specification requirements to best utilize equipment and manufacturing techniques

Team Leadership & Accountability

• Leads daily/weekly stand‑ups and regular team syncs to review priorities, remove roadblocks, and reinforce accountability for task completion to committed deadlines.

• Clearly defines task ownership, deliverables, and due dates for team members, and follows up proactively to ensure on‑time execution in support of production and NPI schedules.

• Establishes and tracks key performance indicators (KPIs) for on‑time task completion, cycle time reduction, and defect reduction, and drives corrective actions when targets are not met.

• Coaches and develops team members in effective task management, prioritization, and time management to improve individual and team productivity

• Escalates critical risks to delivery dates in a timely manner and leads cross‑functional problem‑solving to return programs to plan

• Performs hands-on work to support production floor and aircraft integration and assembly processes as required

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience):

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial, Mechanical, or similar field is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience

• Minimum 2 years' experience in supervisory role

• Minimum 3-5 years' experience in a Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, Test Engineering or similar field in Aerospace, Automotive, or Commercial industries

• Familiar with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies and tools for process development and control

​ Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies:

• Demonstrated effective problem-solving and analytical skills; familiarity with root cause analysis techniques

• Certification in Lean / Sigma Black Belt through an accredited certification body, preferred

• Strong organization/planning, time management, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills; ability to manage conflict

• Ability to work within defined requirements and deadlines to complete tasks independently; ability to manage stress

• Effectively communicates with management, engineering, and other staff regarding manufacturing capabilities and other considerations to facilitate and improve production processes

• Ability to apply statistical analysis to optimize production workflows and production layouts

• Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties

• Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives

• Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products

• Familiar with electro-mechanical manufacturing, drawings, procedures, and Bill of Materials

• Experienced user in Microsoft Office (Word, Visio, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, Access, Project)

• Familiar with Minitab, MRP/ERP (Oracle is preferred), Agile, and CAD programs (SolidWorks is preferred)

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office 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)

Special Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required

• Occasionally may be required to travel Internationally and within the Continental U.S

• Occasional travel to supplier sites (up to 10%)

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$98,000 - $138,600

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.

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