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Senior Project Engineer- Energetics
Posted: 09/14/2026
Employment Type:
Direct Placement
Job Industry: Defense/Government
Job Number: 26-00310
Pay Rate: 150000-180000 USD/Year
Job Description
A small defense R&D organization in the Greater Austin area is seeking a Senior Project Engineer to lead hands-on projects involving energetic materials from development through testing and technology transition.
This position is on an engineering leadership track, with the goal of developing this person into a Director-level role over time.
Location: Greater Austin, TX | Onsite
Salary: $150, 000-$180, 000
What We're Looking For
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Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Aerospace, or a related engineering discipline
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Strong engineering foundation with the ability to solve complex technical problems
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Experience with energetic materials such as explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, munitions, warheads, or related technologies
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Defense contracting or DoD engineering experience
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Hands-on experience with R&D, experimental development, testing, or technology development
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Experience developing test methods, working with instrumentation, collecting data, and analyzing technical results
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Ability to take ownership of technical projects and work independently within a small engineering team
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Strong technical communication skills and experience working with customers, sponsors, engineers, and technicians
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Interest in growing into greater engineering and technical leadership responsibility
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U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain required security and federal approvals
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Lead engineering and R&D projects involving energetic materials and related defense technologies
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Own technical projects from initial concept and planning through development, testing, analysis, and delivery
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Develop test plans, experimental approaches, and technical solutions based on project requirements
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Participate directly in test setup, instrumentation, data collection, troubleshooting, and analysis
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Work alongside engineers and technicians during fabrication, assembly, and testing
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Evaluate test results and use data to guide technical decisions and next steps
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Communicate with customers and government sponsors regarding technical requirements, project progress, and results
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Support project schedules, budgets, cost estimates, proposals, and technical documentation
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Help transition successful R&D efforts into usable technologies or products
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Travel between the engineering office and an outdoor test facility approximately 55 miles away as project needs require
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Participate in hands-on field testing, including outdoor work and lifting approximately 40 pounds when needed
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Take on increasing technical and engineering leadership responsibilities as you become familiar with the organization and its programs
If you’re looking for a hands-on engineering role with a path toward engineering leadership, we’d like to hear from you.
Meet Your Recruiter
Kayla DeWitt
Technical Recruiter
Kayla is a service-driven recruiter with a passion for fostering meaningful connections. With a keen eye for talent and a heart for people, Kayla goes beyond the traditional recruiter role, seeing each candidate not just as a potential hire but as an individual with unique aspirations and goals.
Driven by the belief that the right job can transform lives, Kayla is on a mission to create fulfilling career experiences. Building strong relationships is at the core of everything Kayla does, whether it's understanding a candidate's career journey or partnering with clients to identify the perfect fit for their team.