Chief Engineer, Unmanned Surface Vessels

AEVEX • Tampa, FL

11h

About The Position

The Chief Engineer provides technical leadership, strategic direction, and execution oversight for the design, development, integration, and sustainment of advanced 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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 cybersecurity requirements for defense systems, including secure communications and resilient architectures.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to senior defense stakeholders.
• Understand of supply chain as it relates to autonomous systems development, rapid production scaling and design for manufacturing.
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field required.
• 15+ years of progressive engineering experience in defense, aerospace, robotics, or autonomous systems development.
• 10+ years of experience with progressive technical experience in engineering roles, with a proven track record of technical design and development
• 7+ years in senior technical leadership roles (e.g., Lead Engineer, Chief Engineer, Technical Director, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated experience leading at least one full lifecycle unmanned or autonomous system development program.
• Experience interfacing directly with DoD customers, prime contractors, and/or government program offices.
• Background in integrating sensors, navigation systems, propulsion systems, C2 systems, autonomy software, or mission payloads into operational platforms.
• Experience with test and evaluation planning, field demonstrations, and operational deployment support.
• Experience with manufacturing technologies that enable rapid development, test and demonstration of capabilities.
• Experience with safety-critical systems and applicable certification standards.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall technical leadership for 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.
• 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 systems engineering and product development.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• 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.

Benefits

• AEVEX provides a full suite of comprehensive benefits, including a 401(k)-retirement plan, comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability and Life insurance group coverage with a portion of the premiums paid by the company, professional development funds, and an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) with counseling, legal help, child and elder care support, among other benefits for qualified employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior