Energetics Product Engineer II

Riverbend Energetics; Alton (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Opportunities for advancement

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Riverbend Energetics in Alton, Illinois is looking for an experienced Energetics Product Engineer II to contribute to critical U.S. defense programs. This role requires leading the design and qualification of energetic components, including electric and stab detonators, ensuring compliance with military standards.

The ideal candidate will have minimum 5 years of experience and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, with strong technical writing and communication skills. The position emphasizes safety and data-driven problem solving within a collaborative team environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years in defense, aerospace, or energetic components.
• Strong documentation skills with military standards.
• Experience in engineering qualification programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and qualification of energetic components.
• Conduct root cause and corrective action investigations.
• Mentor junior engineers and lead design reviews.

Skills

Hands-On Energetics Domain Expertise

Military Standards Fluency

Disciplined Root Cause Analysis

Technical Writing

Safety Mindset

Cross-Functional Communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Statistical Analysis Tools

CAD Software (SolidWorks, CATIA)

Job description

Energetics Product Engineer II

About the Role

Riverbend Energetics is seeking an experienced and technically accomplished Energetics Product Engineer II to join our Engineering department in support of critical U.S. defense programs. In this role, you will serve as a proficient technical contributor with demonstrated hands‑on expertise in energetic materials and component design, leading key engineering efforts in the development, qualification, and sustainment of electric and stab detonators, CAD/PAD systems, and related energetic components. This position carries greater technical independence and ownership than entry‑level engineering roles and represents a meaningful step toward senior technical leadership within our organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute the design, development, and qualification of energetic components — including electric/stab detonators and CAD/PAD systems — in accordance with applicable military standards and customer requirements, with minimal supervision.
• Author, review, and approve engineering documentation including design specifications, test plans, test reports, failure analyses, and engineering change proposals, ensuring technical rigor and compliance.
• Serve as a primary technical interface with manufacturing, quality, and safety teams to resolve complex producibility, compliance, and performance challenges.
• Independently analyze and interpret test data from development and qualification programs, drawing substantiated engineering conclusions and driving data‑driven product improvements.
• Lead or co‑lead design reviews, customer technical interchange meetings, and program reviews, presenting technical findings and recommendations with confidence.
• Own root cause and corrective action (RCCA) investigations related to product nonconformances or field issues, developing and implementing robust corrective actions.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers, supporting their professional development and contributing to overall team capability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive engineering experience in a defense, aerospace, or energetic components environment.
• Working knowledge of military standards and specifications relevant to energetic devices (e.g., MIL-STD-1316, MIL-DTL-23659, STANAG series), with demonstrated application experience.
• Proven ability to independently interpret and generate engineering drawings, schematics, and GD&T with a high degree of accuracy.
• Strong technical writing skills with a demonstrated track record of producing and approving formal engineering documentation for defense programs.
• Experience leading or significantly contributing to qualification programs, design reviews, or failure investigations.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
• Ability to work safely in proximity to explosive materials in compliance with all applicable safety regulations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Direct, hands‑on experience with CAD/PAD systems, initiator devices, or pyrotechnic components across both production and development environments.
• Experience with AS9100 quality management systems, including ownership of First Article Inspection (FAI) processes.
• Proficiency with statistical analysis tools and Design of Experiments (DOE) methodologies applied to energetic component qualification.
• Experience authoring or supporting DoD Explosive Safety Board (DDESB) submissions or explosive site plan documentation.
• Active DoD Secret or higher security clearance.
• Proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks, CATIA, or equivalent) for design development, review, and markup.
• Experience interfacing directly with U.S. government customers or prime contractors in a technical capacity.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with experience.
• The opportunity to take meaningful technical ownership of mission‑critical programs that directly support U.S. warfighters and national security.
• A collaborative, safety‑focused culture within a specialized team of energetics professionals, with clear pathways for advancement into senior engineering and technical leadership roles.

Key Requirements

• Hands‑On Energetics Domain Expertise: Riverbend's core business is energetic components — electric/stab detonators and CAD/PAD systems — which are highly specialized, safety‑critical devices with no margin for on‑the‑job learning of fundamentals. A candidate who has directly worked with initiator devices, pyrotechnics, or propellant‑actuated devices brings institutional knowledge of material sensitivities, output characterization, and failure modes that cannot be quickly transferred. At a 150‑person company without large redundant teams, this depth of domain knowledge has immediate, tangible impact on program execution.
• Military Standards Fluency and Compliance Rigor: Riverbend's products must meet exacting DoD requirements governed by standards like MIL-STD-1316, MIL-DTL-23659, and STANAG series. At the Engineer II level, the expectation is independent application — not just awareness — of these standards in design decisions, documentation, and qualification planning. Misapplication of mil‑specs can result in program delays, field failures, or loss of customer confidence, all of which carry outsized consequences at a specialized 150‑person contractor where each program relationship is critical.
• Disciplined Root Cause and Data‑Driven Problem Solving: Energetic component nonconformances and field issues carry safety and mission‑criticality implications that demand rigorous, traceable root cause and corrective action (RCCA) processes. At Riverbend, where engineering teams are lean, this engineer will be expected to independently own RCCA investigations without a large support infrastructure. Candidates who rely on intuition over data or who produce superficial corrective actions create long‑term liability. The ability to interpret complex test data, identify true root causes, and implement durable fixes is a direct differentiator between good and great at this level.
• Safety‑First Mindset Integrated with Engineering Judgment: Working with explosive materials requires more than compliance with posted safety rules — it demands an internalized culture of safety that shapes every engineering decision, from design margins to test procedures to handling protocols. At Riverbend, a safety incident would have consequences far beyond a single program, threatening personnel, facility operations, and the company's ability to hold explosive site licenses. The ideal candidate instinctively applies safety considerations as a first‑order engineering constraint, not an afterthought, and actively reinforces this culture with peers and junior engineers.
• Technical Communication and Cross‑Functional Influence: At the Engineer II level, Riverbend expects this person to serve as a primary technical interface across manufacturing, quality, safety, and government customers — often without a senior engineer as a buffer. The ability to translate complex energetic engineering concepts into clear, credible communication for non‑engineers and customer stakeholders is essential for maintaining program momentum and organizational trust. In a 150‑person company, engineers who can lead design reviews, author defensible documentation, and represent the organization at customer TIMs carry disproportionate value.

About Riverbend Energetics

Riverbend Energetics is a defense and industrial manufacturer based in Alton, IL. We develop and produce energetic materials and specialty munitions for U.S. defense and allied customers. Our mission‑critical work demands precision, safety, and a commitment to excellence.