Warhead Engineer

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 Warhead Engineer to support the development, integration, testing, and evaluation of warhead and energetic subsystem concepts for Department of War customers. The engineer will help translate performance requirements into practical designs and test plans, analyze results, and document the evidence needed to mature concepts safely and effectively.

This role combines hands-on engineering with modeling, test support, and coordination across materials, mechanical, systems safety, and test teams. The engineer will work with experienced technical leads and government partners, applying sound judgment to design tradeoffs, data quality, safety requirements, and technical documentation.

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:

• Support warhead, fuzing and energetic subsystem design activities, including requirements review, concept development, mechanical integration, and design documentation.
• Develop and update engineering drawings, specifications, bills of materials, test procedures, and technical data packages under the direction of technical leads.
• Help build and evaluate prototype assemblies, coordinating configuration control, inspection, and documentation with qualified test and safety personnel.
• Support planning and execution of laboratory and field tests; help define objectives, diagnostics, success criteria, and data-collection needs.
• Analyze test data and modeling results to assess performance, identify discrepancies, and recommend design changes or follow-on work.
• Coordinate with modeling and simulation, instrumentation, manufacturing, materials, and systems safety teams to resolve integration issues.
• Document assumptions, design tradeoffs, test findings, risks, and corrective actions for technical reviews and customer deliverables.
• Support environmental, safety and ordnance qualification planning and the preparation of materials for customer and safety reviews.
• Work with vendors and subcontractors on component requirements, prototype fabrication, and technical questions.
• Contribute to research and development, technical reports, and proposal inputs for emerging warhead and energetics concepts.

Required 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 2 years of relevant engineering, warhead or energetic subsystem development, ordnance testing, or related technical experience; 3–5 years or more is 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.
• Experience applying engineering fundamentals to mechanical design, energetic components, munitions, or other complex hardware systems.
• Experience preparing or interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, test plans, and technical reports.
• Familiarity with prototype development, integration, test execution, and evaluation of results against requirements.
• Ability to analyze technical data and communicate assumptions, limitations, and recommendations clearly.
• Ability to work safely and effectively with multidisciplinary teams in laboratory, industrial, and field-test environments.
• Strong organization, technical writing, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

• Experience with warheads, fuzing, energetic materials, lethality analysis, or weapon-effects testing.
• Experience with CAD, modeling and simulation, test instrumentation, or data-analysis tools.
• Familiarity with insensitive munitions, environmental qualification, DoD ordnance reviews, or controlled technical data.

What We Offer: Hands-on engineering work supporting defense R&D and test programs, along with flexible work schedules, generous paid time off and holidays, employer-paid medical, dental, and vision options, tuition assistance, life and disability coverage, and a 401(k) plan with an immediate Safe Harbor employer match.

Compensation: Compensation at ETC is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the combination of education, certifications, knowledge, skills, competencies, experience, internal and external equity, location, clearance level, as well as contract-specific affordability, and applicable employment laws. The estimated salary range for this positionis based on full time status.

Estimated Salary Range
USD $125,000.00 - USD $163,000.00 /Yr