Ballistic Armor Engineering Lead — Secret Clearance

QinetiQ; Franklin (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 requires expertise in materials science, mechanical engineering, protective system design, and product validation throughout the lifecycle from concept to production.

The ideal candidate will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, oversee testing programs, and ensure compliance with stringent safety and performance standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's 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; #qinetiqclearedjob.
• Strong knowledge of armor materials, composites, and impact mechanics.
• Experience with manufacturing processes for composites, ceramics, and advanced materials.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop ballistic armor systems for personnel, vehicle, or structural protection.
• Evaluate materials including ceramics, composites, UHMWPE, aramid fibers, metals, and hybrids.
• Conduct analyses to optimize weight, protection, ergonomics, durability, and manufacturability.
• Plan, oversee ballistic testing programs and prototype evaluation.
• Interpret test data and recommend design improvements.
• Collaborate with manufacturing to scale production of prototypes.
• Develop technical specifications, drawings, docs, and test reports.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and customer requirements.
• Perform root cause analysis on failures and recommend actions.
• Support customer technical discussions and proposals.
• Monitor advancements in protective materials and ballistic science.

Skills

Armor materials

Composite structures

Impact mechanics

FEA

CAD

Engineering docs

Manufacturing processes

Technical writing

Project management

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical Eng / Materials Science / Aerospace Eng

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 requires expertise in materials science, mechanical engineering, protective system design, and product validation throughout the lifecycle from concept to production.

The ideal candidate will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, oversee testing programs, and ensure compliance with stringent safety and performance standards.