Senior Warhead Engineer
Listed on 2026-10-30
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Engineering
Systems Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Test Engineer, Aerospace / Aviation / Avionics
Senior Warhead Engineer
Energetics Technology Center (ETC)
Location:
4445 Indian Head Highway, Indian Head, MD 20640
The Energetics Technology Center (ETC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and engineering organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Indian Head, Maryland. ETC works with government, industry, and academia to develop, mature, test, and transition technologies that address critical defense needs. Its work spans energetic materials, warheads and fuzing, propulsion, modeling and simulation, data and digital engineering, test and evaluation, manufacturing modernization and automation, industrial-base support, and technology transition.
ETC is seeking a full-time Senior Warhead Engineer to lead technical work in warhead and energetic subsystem development for Department of War customers. This engineer will guide concepts from requirements and design through prototype integration, performance testing, qualification planning, and transition, using analysis and test evidence to resolve difficult technical decisions.
The role calls for a hands-on technical leader who can challenge assumptions, weigh performance, safety, manufacturability, schedule, and cost tradeoffs, and direct multidisciplinary work. The engineer will serve as a technical point of contact for government customers and ETC leadership while coordinating with design, modeling and simulation, test, systems safety, manufacturing, and supplier teams.
This is a full-time onsite position based at ETC's Indian Head office and customer facilities. Work at laboratory and field-test locations may be required. Occasional travel and work outside normal business hours may be necessary to support test events and technical reviews, and limited remote flexibility may be available based on program and customer requirements.
Key Responsibilities:- Lead warhead, fuzing and energetic subsystem technical development, including requirements, design approaches, integration, test strategy, and design reviews.
- Develop and review engineering drawings, specifications, interface requirements, test procedures, technical reports, and configuration-controlled data packages.
- Direct prototype maturation and integration, resolving mechanical, energetic, interface, and producibility issues with technical teams and suppliers.
- Lead planning and evaluation of performance, environmental, and qualification tests, defining objectives, diagnostics, success criteria, and review milestones.
- Integrate lethality analysis, modeling and simulation, and measured test data to evaluate performance, uncertainty, and design tradeoffs.
- Investigate test anomalies and technical failures, document root causes and corrective actions, and guide design iteration and follow‑on testing.
- Develop technical risk and mitigation plans, including coordination of insensitive munitions, ordnance safety, and qualification activities with dedicated safety specialists.
- Prepare and present technical findings and review packages for government customers and applicable ordnance and safety review boards.
- Coordinate engineers, test personnel, analysts, manufacturers, vendors, and subcontractors; mentor less experienced engineers and review their work.
- Support research and development and capture efforts with technical approaches, proposal content, realistic schedules, and resource estimates.
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related technical field. A master's degree in a relevant engineering or technical discipline is preferred.
Experience Level:Minimum of 7 years of relevant warhead design, energetics integration, ordnance development, lethality, or related weapons engineering experience; 10 years or more and demonstrated technical leadership are preferred.
Required Skills and Qualifications:- U.S. citizenship and current possession of, or eligibility to obtain and maintain, a U.S. Secret security clearance. Higher-level clearance or program-specific access may be required for certain assignments.
- Demonstrated experience leading development or integration of warheads, energetic subsystems, munitions, or comparable complex defense hardware.
- Experience directing multidisciplinary design, prototype, test, and technical review activities and resolving competing requirements.
- Experience interpreting performance tests and analytical results to make defensible design and qualification decisions.
- Experience preparing engineering…
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