Ballistic Hard Armor SME with Security Clearance

QinetiQ US; 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 across personnel, vehicle, and structural applications.

You will apply materials science, mechanical engineering, and product validation to meet performance, durability, and certification requirements, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams from concept through production.

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.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop ballistic armor systems for personnel, vehicle, or structural protection.
• Evaluate and select advanced materials including ceramics, composites, 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.
• Collaborate with manufacturing teams to transition prototypes into scalable production.
• Develop specifications, drawings, documentation, and test reports.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and customer requirements.
• Perform root cause analysis on product failures and recommend corrective actions.
• Support customer discussions, proposal development, and engineering presentations.
• Monitor emerging technologies in protective materials and ballistic science.

Skills

Armor materials knowledge

FEA analysis

CAD proficiency

Education

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

Tools

FEA

CAD

Job description

Position Overview QinetiQ is seeking a Ballistic Armor Engineering Expert to lead the research, design, testing, and development of advanced ballistic protection systems. This role combines expertise in materials science, mechanical engineering, protective system design, and product validation to develop armor solutions that meet demanding performance, durability, and certification requirements. The successful candidate will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycle, from concept through production.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop ballistic armor systems for personnel, vehicle, or structural protection applications.
• Evaluate and select advanced materials including ceramics, composite laminates, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), aramid fibers, metals, and hybrid material systems.
• 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.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of experience developing ballistic protection systems or advanced protective equipment.
• Secret Clearance required; #qinetiqclearedjob
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with military, law enforcement, or aerospace protective systems.
• Familiarity with applicable ballistic testing and certification standards.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis and Design of Experiments (DOE).
• Experience working within regulated quality management systems.

Pay Transparency

The salary range for this role is $150,000 - $180,000 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. QinetiQ US considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.