Propellant / Rocket Motor Specialist

DefendTex; Lang Lang; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

National-first facility

Leadership opportunities

Job summary

DefendTex is seeking a Propellant / Rocket Motor Specialist to act as the technical authority on formulation and small-scale motor development. You will lead lab and pilot-scale trials, develop predictive models and translate findings into production-ready processes.

You will mentor scientists, collaborate with QA, HSE and operations, and ensure regulatory compliance while supporting scale-up and testing activities at our Victoria facility.

Qualifications

• Essential: BSc or MSc in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering or closely related discipline.
• Experience formulating rocket propellants or energetic compositions (composite and/or double-base).
• Practical experience with lab and pilot-scale mixing, casting/bonding or processing methods.
• Experience in modelling or simulation of internal ballistics, burn rates or related performance metrics.
• Strong record keeping, data analysis and technical reporting skills.
• Explosives safety training desirable; strong commitment to explosives handling safety.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an Australian Explosives License and Australian Defence Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and optimisation of composite and double-base propellant formulations.
• Design and execute lab and pilot-scale formulation trials; translate results to production processes.
• Develop and validate internal ballistics and ageing models; conduct simulation and performance prediction.
• Define ingredient specifications, batch records and safe material handling protocols.
• Support process scale-up, plant commissioning and handover to production.
• Plan and support static-fire testing, analyse results and close technical actions.
• Maintain detailed, auditable technical documentation and safety cases.
• Mentor junior scientists and technicians; promote best practice in explosives safety and record keeping.
• Collaborate with engineering, QA, HSE and operations to ensure producibility and regulatory compliance.

Education

BSc or MSc in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Internal ballistics tools

Job description

As Propellant / Rocket Motor Specialist you will be the technical authority for propellant formulation and small-scale motor development. You will lead laboratory and pilot-scale trials, develop predictive models, and work closely with process, materials and production teams to translate formulations into production-ready processes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead development and optimisation of composite and double-base propellant formulations.
• Design and execute lab and pilot-scale formulation trials; translate results to production processes.
• Develop and validate internal ballistics and ageing models; conduct simulation and performance prediction.
• Define ingredient specifications, batch records and safe material handling protocols.
• Support process scale-up, plant commissioning and handover to production.
• Plan and support static-fire testing, analyse results and close technical actions.
• Maintain detailed, auditable technical documentation and safety cases.
• Mentor junior scientists and technicians; promote best practice in explosives safety and record keeping.
• Collaborate with engineering, QA, HSE and operations to ensure producibility and regulatory compliance.

About the Role

As Propellant / Rocket Motor Specialist you will be the technical authority for propellant formulation and small-scale motor development. You will lead laboratory and pilot-scale trials, develop predictive models, and work closely with process, materials and production teams to translate formulations into production-ready processes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead development and optimisation of composite and double-base propellant formulations.
• Design and execute lab and pilot-scale formulation trials; translate results to production processes.
• Develop and validate internal ballistics and ageing models; conduct simulation and performance prediction.
• Define ingredient specifications, batch records and safe material handling protocols.
• Support process scale-up, plant commissioning and handover to production.
• Plan and support static-fire testing, analyse results and close technical actions.
• Maintain detailed, auditable technical documentation and safety cases.
• Mentor junior scientists and technicians; promote best practice in explosives safety and record keeping.
• Collaborate with engineering, QA, HSE and operations to ensure producibility and regulatory compliance.

About You

You are a technically rigorous scientist or engineer with hands-on experience in energetic formulations and a strong safety mindset. You enjoy translating laboratory science into reliable, producible processes.

Essential:

• BSc or MSc in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering or closely related discipline.
• Experience formulating rocket propellants or energetic compositions (composite and/or double-base experience).
• Practical experience with lab and pilot-scale mixing, casting/bonding or processing methods.
• Experience in modelling or simulation of internal ballistics, burn rates or related performance metrics.
• Strong record keeping, data analysis and technical reporting skills.
• Formal explosives safety training desirable; strong commitment to explosives handling safety.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an Australian Explosives License (where applicable) and Australian Defence Security Clearance.

Desirable:

• Experience supporting static-fire test programmes and analysing firing data.
• Familiarity with QA/QC for energetic materials and handover to production.
• Proficiency with MATLAB, internal ballistics codes or relevant simulation tools.

Why Us?

• Competitive remuneration and meaningful project work.
• Direct impact on Australia’s sovereign defence capability and productionisation of novel technologies.
• Opportunity to work in a national-first facility with an experienced multidisciplinary team.
• Professional development, technical training and leadership opportunities.
• Collaborative, mission-driven culture that values innovation and responsible risk taking.
• Based near Victoria’s Bass Coast – regional lifestyle with practical access to Melbourne.

We are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds, including First Nations people.