R&D Engineer II; SRM Ballistician; Remote

Company Overview

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (OTS) is a global leader in the design, engineering and production of munitions, energetics, weapons, armaments, and missile subsystems around the world. OTS empowers the U.S. military and its allies with an extensive range of product segments applied across all levels of strategic and tactical operations, providing a cutting‑edge advantage to our warfighters.

Our Ethos of Honesty, Trust, Transparency, and Alignment is the guiding framework for everything we do. Integrity is paramount, innovation fuels our passion, customer satisfaction is central, and collaboration is key to our success.

We offer a robust total rewards package that includes compensation; healthcare, wellness, retirement, and work/life benefits, as well as career development and recognition programs.

We are seeking a Ballistician to join our Solid Rocket Motor Engineering Team. The role involves generating rocket motor concepts from high‑level thrust/burn time requirements, refining into detailed grain and nozzle designs, and collaborating with cross‑functional teams to define propellant grain geometries, optimize burn rates, thrust curves, and pressure profiles.

This is a full‑time position with a 9/80 schedule. It can be remote or at our Huntsville, AL or Hampton, AR facility.

• Requires working knowledge in own discipline and broadens capabilities.
• Continues to build knowledge of the company, processes, and customers.
• Performs a range of assignments related to job discipline.
• Uses prescribed guidelines or policies in analyzing situations.
• Receives a moderate level of guidance and direction.
• Consistent exercise of discretion & judgment.

• Conduct research, design, and development activities to develop new or improved products, processes, or services.
• Collaborate with manufacturing partners, contract manufacturers, designers and product specialists to optimize designs for manufacturability.
• Apply research theories, principles, and models during experiments and studies.
• Conduct market research, track projects, build spreadsheets evaluating trade space, design presentation slides, and execute business‑oriented tasks.
• Summarize research results and communicate findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Assess project scope to ensure on‑time and within‑budget delivery.
• Develop technical documentation for all projects.
• Utilize CAD/CAE systems to model new designs and produce detailed engineering drawings.

• Create rocket motor concepts to meet customer requirements.
• Refine grain geometries and optimize burn rates, thrust and pressure curves in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Lead static fire test campaigns and ground‑based prototyping; analyze test data to validate performance and investigate anomalies.
• Reduce motor data to determine burn‑rate properties of propellants.
• Oversee propellant casting, curing cycles, and review tool designs.

• Associate’s Degree and 2–4 years of experience.
• Engineering degree required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Product innovation, intelligence, research, and project scoping skills.
• Quantitative research, R&D, documentation; oral and written communication.
• Critical and analytical thinking.

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods.
• Requires regular movement throughout facilities.
• Work primarily in a climate‑controlled environment with minimal safety/health hazard potential.

Up to 25% travel likely.

$82,400–$111,500.

Medical, dental, vision, short and long‑term disability, and basic life insurance; pre‑tax spending accounts; 401(k) plan; non‑contributory retirement; voluntary benefits including critical illness, accident, identity theft protection, enhanced legal services, auto and home insurance, pet insurance, commuter benefits, hospital indemnity, and educational assistance.

11 paid holidays, 120 hours of PTO annually, and up to 3 weeks paid family leave.

The salary range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum for this position. Individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors such as job‑related skills, experience, internal equity, and relevant education or training.

Eligible for the company’s Gain Sharing Program.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They do not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities or skills, and additional duties may be added or the job description amended. This job description does not alter an employee’s at‑will status.