Contract Chief Engineer – Solid Rocket Propulsion

EVONA; United States; Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 248,000; Full time

Job summary

EVONA is seeking a Chief Engineer to own the end-to-end technical success of its solid rocket propulsion programmes on a 12-month engagement with a 40-hour work week. The role is remote (US-based) after a 60-day on-site onboarding in Reno, NV or Folsom, CA.

You will lead a multidisciplinary, hands-on technical team through design, qualification and production, acting as the programme's primary technical spokesperson and ensuring producibility, cost and schedule balance.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace or related engineering discipline.
• 15+ years of engineering experience.
• 5+ years of technical leadership in controllable solid rocket propulsion.
• Broad background across design, analysis and test.
• Experience across development phases: IRAD, EMD and production.
• Chief Engineer or equivalent technical lead track record; management backgrounds not considered.
• US citizenship and ability to obtain/hold US security clearance.
• On-site for 60 days, with up to 25% travel thereafter.

Responsibilities

• Direct the full technical lifecycle of solid rocket motor programmes, from IRAD through EMD and into production
• Lead cross-functional teams through design reviews and qualification milestones
• Make sure the final system is producible, compliant and balanced against cost and schedule
• Drive the critical path, deconflict resources and find alternative routes when schedule is at risk
• Hold lean technical baselines, track cost performance and challenge change requests with alternative technical solutions
• Act as the programme's primary technical spokesperson with internal and customer stakeholders

Skills

Technical leadership

System-level thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace engineering

Job description

Open hourly rate

12-month contract - 40 hours per week

Remote (US-based) after a 60-day on-site onboarding in Reno, NV or Folsom, CA

A defence and space technology company is hiring a Chief Engineer to own the end-to-end technical success of its solid rocket propulsion programmes through a 12-month engagement.

This is a hands-on technical leadership seat, not a people management role. You'll lead a multidisciplinary team through design, qualification and production with no direct reports. What's needed is a broad, seasoned SRM engineer who has seen hardware through every phase and can be the technical voice of the programme.

What you'll be doing

• Direct the full technical lifecycle of solid rocket motor programmes, from IRAD through EMD and into production
• Lead cross-functional teams through design reviews and qualification milestones
• Make sure the final system is producible, compliant and balanced against cost and schedule
• Drive the critical path, deconflict resources and find alternative routes when schedule is at risk
• Hold lean technical baselines, track cost performance and challenge change requests with alternative technical solutions
• Act as the programme's primary technical spokesperson with internal and customer stakeholders

What you'll need

• Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace or a related engineering discipline
• 15+ years of engineering experience
• 5+ years of technical leadership in controllable solid rocket propulsion
• A broad background across design, analysis and test, not narrowly specialised in one area
• Experience across development phases: IRAD, EMD and production
• A Chief Engineer or equivalent technical lead track record (programme management backgrounds won't be considered for this seat)
• US citizenship and the ability to obtain and hold a US security clearance
• Able to be on-site in Reno or Folsom for the first 60 days, with up to 25% travel thereafter

Nice to have

• Background at a major prime or legacy SRM house
• 4+ years leading controllable SRM projects with teams of 10 or more
• Prior contract or independent consulting work, you land and add value fast