Senior Ballistic Armor Engineer

QinetiQ US; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

QinetiQ US seeks a Ballistic Armor Engineering Expert to lead research, design, testing and development of advanced ballistic protection systems. You will combine materials science, mechanical engineering and product validation to deliver armor solutions meeting strict performance and certification requirements.

You will work with multidisciplinary teams across the product lifecycle, from concept through production, ensuring manufacturability and compliance with standards.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience developing ballistic protection systems or advanced protective equipment.
• Strong knowledge of armor materials, composite structures, and impact mechanics.
• Secret Clearance required; #qinetiqclearedjob
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) and computer-aided design (CAD) software.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple engineering projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop ballistic armor systems for personnel, vehicle, or structural protection applications.
• Evaluate and select advanced materials including ceramics, composite laminates, 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 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.

Skills

Ballistic protection expertise

Secret clearance

Multitasking

Strong writing & communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering

Tools

FEA software

CAD software

Job description

QinetiQ US seeks a Ballistic Armor Engineering Expert to lead research, design, testing and development of advanced ballistic protection systems. You will combine materials science, mechanical engineering and product validation to deliver armor solutions meeting strict performance and certification requirements.

You will work with multidisciplinary teams across the product lifecycle, from concept through production, ensuring manufacturability and compliance with standards.