Engineering Manager; Design

Job Overview

Be part of a growing team. Join Chemring Energetic Devices (CED) as we build products that protect our Country, protect the individual warfighter, and send rockets into outer space. CED is located in Downers Grove, Illinois, a short commute from Chicago and farmland.

Full-time. Pay range: $149.2k to $174k, eligible for a discretionary bonus program. Benefits include BCBS of IL medical plans, Dental (Sun Life) Vision (Eye Med), Life and Disability Insurance, 401(k) with 6% match, 11 paid holidays, 5 paid sick days (full‑year basis) and paid vacation.

The Engineering Manager leads New Product Development and Production activities on time and within budget, ensuring all projects conform to CED’s policies and procedures. This role collaborates across departments to advance engineering and R&D capabilities and supports the growth of less experienced engineers.

• Direct New Product Development (NPD) efforts within established CED processes ensuring cost and schedule targets are achieved.
• Lead product improvement/redesign teams to overcome product performance issues and drive toward innovative and improved designs.
• Support legacy production jobs, maintaining up-to-date Technical Data Packages (TDP) guaranteeing producibility.
• Lead efforts to determine feasibility, risk and effort associated with product development.
• Provide technical assistance to other functions within the organization as requested.
• Provide expert judgment and analysis for the design, development and implementation of technical products and systems.
• Interface with Business Development and Manufacturing to ensure support for ongoing proposal activities.
• Provide leadership to junior engineers and develop growth opportunities and channels.
• Support internal recurring status meetings with manufacturing.
• Define engineering development strategies in support of project and product goals and requirements.
• Lead the mechanical engineering staff and other IPDT team members regarding technical evaluations and programmatic and design trade‑off decisions.
• Support and/or coordinate design reviews for the functional group and any project for which the Pyrophoric Mechanisms group plays a key role.
• Direct Pyrophoric Mechanisms staff in the definition and development of verification and validation test plans.
• Define and track key product metrics with the intent of identifying product and process improvements.

• Comply with government and corporate laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ensure 100% compliance with the Chemring Operational Framework, Code of Conduct and U.S. Code of Ethics and Business Conduct.
• Special projects and additional duties as assigned.

Provides direct supervision to a variety of junior / entry level exempt employees.

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or chemistry.

• Five to 10 years of related Aerospace/Military/Ordnance industry experience.
• Advanced degree in a related discipline is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring junior engineering staff.
• Experience in leading the long‑term and complex management of engineering programs and projects.
• Experience with prime defense contractor specifications and/or military regulations.

• Lawful permanent resident of the United States (ITAR restrictions).
• Must be eligible to possess explosives under the Safe Explosives Act of 2003 (as amended) as required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) for all employees of Chemring Energetic Devices.
• Strong team player and willingness to create solutions and accept ownership for new and different requests.
• Ability to represent the Company positively and professionally through behavior, attitude and communication.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills both internal and external to the organization.
• Discerning attention to financial, risk and resource management / deployment.
• Comfortable with multiple competing demands and able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events in a calm and logical manner.
• Familiarity with AS‑9100 Standards and CED’s Quality Management…