Principal Project Engineer

Principal Project Engineer

Voyager is an innovative space, defense, and national security technology company committed to advancing and delivering transformative, mission-critical solutions. We tackle the most complex challenges to unlock new frontiers for human progress, fortify national security, and protect critical assets to lead in the race for technological and operational superiority from ground to space.

The Principal Project Engineer for Voyager's Strategic Systems line of business leads end-to-end execution of solid rocket motor programs while beginning to shape technical and programmatic direction across the broader SRM portfolio. This role bridges deep individual program ownership with emerging cross-program influence — the natural next step for a Senior PE who has consistently delivered and is ready to expand their scope.

The Principal is the senior technical authority on assigned programs and a go-to resource for the team on the hardest engineering and execution challenges, with increasing responsibility for mentoring, standards, and portfolio-level visibility.

This position reports to the Program Manager, Solid Rocket Motors, and is part of Voyager's Strategic Systems line of business based in Penrose/Pueblo, Colorado. This role is on-site in Penrose/Pueblo, Colorado.

Essential functions in this role are:

• Own end-to-end technical and programmatic execution on one or more solid rocket motor programs — serving as the senior decision-maker on cost, schedule, and technical performance from proposal through qualification and into production.
• Serve as the primary customer and stakeholder interface on assigned programs, driving alignment on requirements, managing expectations, and representing Voyager's technical capabilities with credibility and authority.
• Drive resolution of technically complex or ambiguous engineering and program execution challenges, applying deep SRM domain expertise to issues that exceed the scope of senior engineers and setting the standard for how the team approaches hard problems.
• Begin building cross-program influence by contributing to portfolio-level technical visibility, identifying shared risks or dependencies across programs, and mentoring junior Project Engineers in both technical and programmatic disciplines.

Basic qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Aerospace, or closely related engineering or science field with 10 years of combined technical engineering and project engineering or project management experience OR 14 years of combined experience in lieu of a degree. We value candidates who bring both deep technical expertise and a proven record of program execution; the balance across these areas will vary by candidate.
• Deep experience with solid rocket motor or energetics design, development, and manufacturing — including a track record of leading programs through qualification and into production with full ownership of technical and programmatic outcomes.
• Proven ability to manage complex, fast-moving defense programs with accountability for cost, schedule, and technical scope — including demonstrated success serving as the primary customer and stakeholder interface.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD Security Clearance (U.S. citizenship required).

Preferred qualifications include:

• Background leading multiple concurrent SRM or energetics programs or demonstrated readiness to expand from single-program to portfolio-level scope.
• Strong technical expertise in hardware design, manufacturing, or systems engineering within defense, space, or aerospace programs, with early experience setting technical standards or mentoring engineers.

Travel, physical, and government mandated requirements include:

• Travel up to 25%, including the possibility of overnights, to customer sites, industry conferences, and program reviews.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance at the appropriate level (requires U.S. Citizenship).
• Candidates must meet all eligibility requirements to obtain and maintain applicable state and federal explosives licenses, including minimum age requirements (21 and over), a drug-free workplace in…