Senior Staff Engineer – Rocket Motor Assembly, Integration

Jobtailor; Magna (UT); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Utah is seeking an experienced Aerospace/Mechanical Engineer to lead design and verification for multiple rocket motor programs. You will supervise cross-functional teams, drive design reviews, and ensure adherence to standards from concept through production.

The role requires deep knowledge of solid rocket motor design, integration, and testing, plus DoD clearance eligibility. You will interface with NASA/IR&D projects and deliver detailed DARs, test plans, and verification

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering; 14+ years of experience or MS/ME with 12+ years or PhD with 10+ years in related field.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government DoD Secret clearance.
• Strong understanding of solid rocket motor design, manufacture, and test.
• Advanced degree (MS, ME) preferred.
• Proficiency with Siemens NX modeling.
• Strong background in integration design and structural analysis.
• Experience designing mechanical brackets and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of ballistics, grain design analysis, loads, and environmental analysis.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and GD&T tolerance analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, time management, and organizational abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead D&A Preliminary Design Review Board and ensure robust, vetted designs.
• Conduct PEER reviews of components, motors, and vehicles as Integration SME.
• Mentor and coordinate Integration SMEs across components for proper handoffs, validation, and certification.
• Lead igniter design and performance analysis for all programs.
• Develop and enforce D&A operating standards, including command media, checklists, and training.
• Lead homeroom team responsible for igniter design, integration, and rocket motor assembly.
• Support mechanical and integration design for Commercial, Strategic, NASA, and IR&D projects.
• Author test requirements, plans, reports, and perform tolerance and trade off analyses.
• Draft requirement specifications and verification reports.
• Lead hardware design, configuration drawing, and model release for three new programs from concept through production, presenting at milestones.
• Lead failure evaluation efforts on three products/processes, documenting findings and implementing corrective actions.
• Lead static test motor or component testing on three occasions, producing test plans and reports.
• Produce at least five DARs, structural and tolerance analyses, trade studies, and verification documentation; create interface artifacts for five programs.
• Establish and disseminate five new command media topics capturing best practices and lessons learned.

Skills

Aerospace engineering

Mechanical engineering

Systems integration

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

MS/ME preferred

PhD preferred

Tools

Siemens NX

NX modeling

Tolerance analysis tools

Job description

Responsibilities

• Lead D&A Preliminary Design Review Board and ensure robust, vetted designs.
• Conduct PEER reviews of components, motors, and vehicles as the Integration SME.
• Mentor and coordinate Integration SMEs across components to guarantee proper hand offs, validation, and certification.
• Lead igniter design and performance analysis for all programs.
• Develop and enforce D&A operating standards, including command media, checklists, and training.
• Lead the homeroom team responsible for igniter design, integration, and rocket motor assembly.
• Support mechanical and integration design for Commercial, Strategic, NASA, and IR&D projects.
• Author test requirements, plans, reports, and perform tolerance and trade off analyses.
• Draft requirement specifications and verification reports.
• Lead hardware design, configuration drawing, and model release for three new programs from concept through production, presenting at all milestone reviews.
• Lead failure evaluation efforts on three products/processes, documenting findings and implementing corrective actions.
• Lead static test motor or component testing on three occasions, producing test plans, supporting the test, conducting post fire assessments, and authoring test reports.
• Produce at least five Design Analysis Reports (DARs), structural and tolerance analyses, trade studies, and verification documentation; create interface artifacts (IICDs, ICDs, N² matrices) for five programs.
• Establish and disseminate five new command media topics that capture best practices and lessons learned for hardware design and analysis.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering with 14 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 12 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 10 years of professional experience.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance.
• Strong understanding of solid rocket motor design, manufacture, and test.
• Advanced degree (MS, ME) is preferred.
• Proficiency with Siemens NX modeling.
• Strong background in integration design, and structural analysis.
• Experience designing mechanical brackets and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of ballistics, grain design analysis, loads, and environmental analysis.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and GD&T tolerance analysis.
• Excellent written/oral communication, time management, and organizational abilities.