Senior Pyrotechnic Mechanisms Engineer

Karman Space & Defense; Mukilteo (WA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Life and AD&D insurance

Disability coverage

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Karman Space & Defense is seeking a Chief Engineer of Pyrotechnic Mechanisms to serve as the technical authority for the mechanical and energetic components used in aerospace and defense programs. Lead development from concept through qualification, collaborating with suppliers and internal teams to ensure safety, producibility, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities include overseeing DFMA/ DFA practices, managing technical risk, leading design and safety reviews, and guiding teams through

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• 15+ years of experience designing and qualifying pyrotechnic or energetic mechanisms in aerospace/defense.
• Deep knowledge of energetics, ignition systems, detonation and deflagration physics, and mechanism actuation.
• Proven record of leading multidisciplinary teams as technical authority.
• Experience with safety and compliance for energetics handling, storage, and testing.
• Familiarity with DoD and NASA regulations governing energetic systems.
• Hands-on test planning, execution, and data reduction for pyrotechnic devices.
• Excellent communication to represent the company to customers, suppliers, and regulators.
• DoD Secret security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Leads development of pyrotechnic mechanisms from conceptual design through qualification and low-rate production, providing hands-on oversight during build, test, and flight operations.
• Translates system-level requirements into mechanical and structural solutions, identifying implied and derived requirements early to prevent scope creep and misinterpretation.
• Develops and enforces design guidelines, analysis methodologies, and test plans to ensure device robustness and repeatability.
• Defines design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) practices with suppliers and internal manufacturing teams.
• Owns technical risk management for pyrotechnic hardware, maintaining risk registers and driving mitigation across design, materials, manufacturing, and testing.
• Tailors standards, processes, and qualification approaches to program needs, balancing rigor, cost, and schedule while maintaining compliance.
• Leads design and safety reviews, documenting tailoring decisions and maintaining alignment with customer and regulatory expectations.
• Defines scope, risks, and technical approaches for proposals supporting new business opportunities.
• Represents mechanisms engineering in customer meetings, technical interchange meetings, and safety boards.
• Mentors and develops engineers to strengthen in-house expertise in mechanism design and pyrotechnics.

Skills

Energetics knowledge

Ignition systems

Detonation physics

Deflagration physics

Mechanism actuation

Technical leadership

Safety compliance

Test planning

DoD/NASA regs

Clearance readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Master’s or doctoral degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Job description

Karman Space & Defense is seeking a Chief Engineer of Pyrotechnic Mechanisms to serve as the technical authority for the mechanical and energetic components used in aerospace and defense programs. Lead development from concept through qualification, collaborating with suppliers and internal teams to ensure safety, producibility, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities include overseeing DFMA/ DFA practices, managing technical risk, leading design and safety reviews, and guiding teams through