The Engineering Development Technician IV will support the development and integration of advanced unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for defense and commercial applications. This hands-on role focuses on assembly, integration, test, and general shop support. The technician will perform mechanical and electrical assembly, troubleshooting, and repair of unmanned systems, operate shop equipment, and assist with prototype hardware integration. They will also serve as a lead technician on engineering projects, coordinate with engineers, and provide design feedback to improve manufacturability.

Responsibilities

Perform mechanical and electrical assembly, integration, troubleshooting, repair, and testing of unmanned systems and sub‑assemblies.
Operate and maintain common shop equipment and tools (hand tools, power tools, soldering irons, crimp tools, small benchtop equipment, 3D printers, etc.).
Provide assembly and integration support for prototype hardware, including wiring harnesses, avionics installation, payload integration, and ground support equipment.
Assist with planning and kitting for builds to meet project schedules and milestones with aggressive timelines.
Document build processes, rework steps, and best practices to support repeatability and knowledge transfer within the team.
Shows strong initiative, ownership of work, and follow‑through.
Effective problem solving
Serve as a lead technician on assigned engineering projects; coordinate with engineers to define tasks, report status, and highlight risks.
Build and maintain development test fixtures, simple tools, and jigs using basic fabrication methods (no precision machining required).
Provide practical design feedback to engineering to improve assembly, serviceability, robustness, and manufacturability.
Help ensure lab and shop areas are safe, organized, and configured for efficient work (5S mindset).
Support explosives safety program activities as required (training provided).
Perform other duties as assigned in support of engineering development and testing.
Familiarity with CAD or 3D modeling tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Fusion 360).

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship required

Nice to have

Prior experience building, flying, and troubleshooting drones/UAS or RC aircraft is strongly desired.
Higher education (technical degree/certificate) and/or relevant industry certifications a plus.
Experience with 3D additive manufacturing (desktop FDM printers, basic CAD-to-print workflow) heavily desired.
Experience working with composites (wet layup or prepreg) is a plus.
Experience interpreting engineering instructions (verbal, sketches, drawings, and written procedures) and creating/updating shop‑floor documentation.
Able to excel in a fast‑paced, prototype‑driven environment where small teams share a broad range of responsibilities.

Benefits

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.