Contract Project Engineer - Solid Rocket Motors

EVONA; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

EVONA is hiring a Contract Senior Project Engineer for a 12-month live motor program in the US defense and space sector. You will act as the senior technical authority for propulsion hardware and integration, owning the lifecycle from concept through qualification and delivery.

The role requires leading IPTs, interfacing with customers and DoD stakeholders, and delivering on critical milestones on-time while ensuring compliance with contractual requirements and standards.

Qualifications

• Systems/aerospace/STEM degree with 7+ years in project engineering; 10+ years for senior seats.
• Solid rocket motor or propulsion hardware experience required.
• Proven full-lifecycle program leadership from concept to delivery.
• Defense program experience, ideally DoD and MDA.
• Knowledge of DoD acquisition frameworks and contract structures.
• Schedule-driven delivery mindset with milestone focus.
• Strong systems-level judgment and ownership mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical execution and integration across the motor lifecycle.
• Own customer, leadership and stakeholder technical interface.
• Direct IPTs and IMP/IMS adherence.
• Oversee subcontractors — flow-down, performance and interface mgmt.
• Author and approve key artifacts — SOWs, ICDs, ECNs, test plans.
• Ensure compliance with contractual requirements, CDRLs and standards.
• Support proposals — technical volume leadership and BOE.

Skills

Systems engineering

Propulsion hardware

Program leadership

Defense programs

DoD acquisition knowledge

Schedule-driven delivery

Systems thinking

Education

Systems/Aerospace/STEM degree

Tools

Microsoft Project

Primavera P6

EVMS (Earned Value Management)

Job description

A US defense & space technology company is hiring a Contract Senior Project Engineer on a 12-month contract to act as the senior technical authority on a live solid rocket motor program. Propulsion and flight hardware for DoD and missile defense customers, mission-critical work where the stakes are real and the integration is genuinely hard.

This isn't a support seat. The program is live, the direction is set and the schedule is fixed. What's missing is a senior engineer who knows motors to own the integration end to end and drive it through qualification and delivery on time.

What you'll be doing

• Leading technical execution and integration across the motor lifecycle — case, propellant, nozzle, igniter, S&A and ordnance, TVC, static fire and qual
• Owning the customer, leadership and stakeholder technical interface
• Directing Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and the IMP/IMS
• Overseeing subcontractors — flow-down, performance and interface management
• Authoring and approving key artifacts — SOWs, ICDs, ECNs, test plans
• Ensuring compliance with contractual requirements, CDRLs and standards
• Supporting proposals — technical volume leadership and BOE

What you'll need

• Systems/aerospace/STEM degree + 7 yrs project engineering (10+ for the most senior seats; equivalent experience in lieu of a degree considered)
• Solid rocket motor or propulsion hardware experience — this is the seat, not a preference
• Proven full-lifecycle program leadership — concept to delivery
• Defense programme experience, ideally DoD and MDA
• Knowledge of DoD acquisition frameworks and contract structures
• A schedule-driven delivery mindset — these programs are date-first and you'll be held to the milestone
• Strong systems-level judgment and ownership mindset

Nice to have

• Prior work on strategic missile, interceptor or missile defense programs — THAAD, SM-3, GBI/NGI, Sentinel, Minuteman
• EVMS experience — Control Account Manager (CAM) background and variance reporting is a strong plus on one program
• Microsoft Project, Primavera or equivalent
• Prior contract/interim work — you land and add value fast