Energetics Specialist
$103,500–$181,100 year
RemoteLittle Rock, Arkansas, United States
Job Summary
Lead technical validation of energetic material processing systems in defense manufacturing environments, guiding multi-party project teams to rigorous, defensible validation outcomes. Direct, witness, and validate Factory Acceptance Tests, Site Acceptance Tests, and integrated systems testing for process production equipment and critical utilities. Develop and review commissioning, start-up, and production qualification requirements tailored to hazardous process facilities, while maintaining issue registers and driving disciplined corrective action closure. Prepare independent technical readiness assessments and support government acceptance activities for ammunition and propellant facilities. This role requires substantial on-site presence at federal installations and client manufacturing sites during design, construction, and qualification phases, with relocation to Little Rock, Arkansas required after the first year.
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in defense manufacturing, explosive processing validation, or comparable U.S. DoD ammunition, energetics, propellant, missile, or propulsion manufacturing programs with direct process qualification responsibility
- Demonstrated experience with process qualification, First Article Testing, Lot Acceptance Testing, material and batch traceability, configuration control, and nonconformance/corrective-action processes in energetic or highly hazardous process environments
- Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Explosives Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline (ABET-accredited preferred)
- Equivalent combination of education and extensive relevant experience
- Working knowledge of DoD explosives safety standards, process safety management for energetic materials, and applicable federal facility criteria
- Hands-on experience with commissioning, start-up, FAT/SAT, functional and integrated systems testing, and operational readiness validation of hazardous process systems and critical process utilities
- Proven ability to develop and critically review test plans, procedures, sampling plans, acceptance criteria, stage-gate criteria, and independent readiness assessment packages
- Strong technical writing and presentation skills; ability to produce clear, defensible reports and brief senior and government audiences
- Demonstrated collaborative approach with multi-party teams including technology providers, EPC/GC contractors, equipment vendors, owners, and government representatives
- Ability and willingness to deploy to client manufacturing sites and federal installations for extended periods during design, construction, start-up, and qualification phases
- Must be able to pass a general background check
- Must be able to speak fluent English
- Must be able to reside within commuting distance of Little Rock, AR or be willing to relocate to the area
- Must be available for travel to vendor facilities for Factory Acceptance Testing as required
- Must be upstanding, forthright, and capable of being entrusted with controlled technical information and site-sensitive data
- Ability to perform effectively under concurrent design, construction, start-up, and government qualification pressures across complex manufacturing environments
Desired Qualifications
- Professional Engineer (PE) registration
- Prior experience at U.S. Army arsenals, ammunition plants, or comparable energetic manufacturing facilities
- Experience integrating or validating industrial control systems / SCADA process controls and safety interlocks in hazardous or explosive environments
- Familiarity with cybersecurity requirements applicable to process control systems in defense manufacturing settings
- ASQ, Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent quality and process-improvement certifications
- Prior hands-on or journeyman experience in chemical process operations, explosives handling, or related trades
- Ability to speak Korean
Hiring someone like this?
Get your role in front of qualified candidates on Sorce.