Senior Ballistic Armor Engineer — R&D & Testing Leader

QinetiQ US (formerly Avantus Federal); Massachusetts; 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. The role combines materials science, mechanical engineering, and product validation to meet demanding performance and certification requirements.

The successful candidate will work with multidisciplinary teams from concept to production, ensuring scalable solutions while aligning with industry standards and customer needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in a related engineering discipline is required.
• 8+ years of experience developing ballistic protection systems or advanced protective equipment.
• Secret Clearance required; #qinetiqclearedjob.
• Strong knowledge of armor materials and impact mechanics.
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) and CAD software.
• Experience designing, validating, and documenting engineering products.

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

Armor materials knowledge

Impact mechanics

Engineering analysis

Documentation & writing

Project management

Education

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

Tools

FEA

CAD

Manufacturing processes

Job description

QinetiQ US is seeking a Ballistic Armor Engineering Expert to lead the research, design, testing, and development of advanced ballistic protection systems. The role combines materials science, mechanical engineering, and product validation to meet demanding performance and certification requirements.

The successful candidate will work with multidisciplinary teams from concept to production, ensuring scalable solutions while aligning with industry standards and customer needs.