Ballistic Armor Engineer | Lead Protection Systems

QinetiQ U.S.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

QinetiQ US is seeking a Ballistic Armor Engineering Expert to lead the research, design, testing, and development of advanced ballistic protection systems. This role combines materials science, mechanical engineering, protective system design, and product validation to meet demanding performance, durability, and certification requirements.

The successful candidate will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams from concept through production, plan and oversee ballistic testing

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience developing ballistic protection systems or advanced protective equipment.
• Secret Clearance required.
• Strong knowledge of armor materials, composite structures, and impact mechanics.
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) and computer-aided design (CAD) software.
• Experience designing, validating, and documenting engineering products.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes for composites, ceramics, and advanced materials.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple engineering projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop ballistic armor systems for personnel, vehicle, or structural protection applications.
• Evaluate and select advanced materials including ceramics, composite laminates, UHMWPE, aramid fibers, metals, and hybrids.
• Conduct engineering analyses to optimize weight, protection level, ergonomics, durability, and manufacturability.
• Plan, oversee, and analyze ballistic testing programs, including prototype evaluation and qualification testing.
• Interpret test data and recommend design improvements based on performance results.
• Collaborate with manufacturing teams to transition prototypes into scalable production processes.
• Develop technical specifications, engineering drawings, design documentation, and test reports.
• Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards and customer requirements.
• Perform root cause analysis on product failures and recommend corrective actions.
• Support customer technical discussions, proposal development, and engineering presentations.
• Monitor emerging technologies and advancements in protective materials and ballistic science.

Skills

FEA

CAD

Armor materials

Technical writing

Project management

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

FEA software

CAD software

Job description

QinetiQ US is seeking a Ballistic Armor Engineering Expert to lead the research, design, testing, and development of advanced ballistic protection systems. This role combines materials science, mechanical engineering, protective system design, and product validation to meet demanding performance, durability, and certification requirements.

The successful candidate will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams from concept through production, plan and oversee ballistic testing