Test Engineer (Prometheus)

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.; Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life/AD&D & Disability Insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time-Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Job summary

Prometheus Energetics seeks an experienced Test Engineer to own propulsion test operations, from development through production acceptance. You will design and sustain test stands, integrate high‑pressure systems, and lead data acquisition with LabVIEW, Python, and MATLAB to ensure safety and data fidelity.

The role demands hands‑on experience with propulsion testing, high‑speed sensors, and PLCs, with U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain security clearances.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical or related engineering field.
• 4–6 years propulsion test experience for Test Engineer; 7–10+ years for Senior Test Engineer.
• Experience with high‑speed sensors (pressure transducers, load cells, thermocouples) and DAQ systems.
• U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain security clearance; ITAR/EAR restricted technology awareness.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and sustain propulsion test stands and GSE for subscale to production acceptance firings.
• Architect high‑pressure systems and PLC‑based control for remote test cells.
• Lead data acquisition, sensor calibration, and test automation in LabVIEW/Python/MATLAB.
• Direct test conductors during energetic operations and enforce safety perimeters.
• Support hazard analyses, SOPs, pre‑fire checklists, and post‑test safing.

Skills

LabVIEW

Python

MATLAB

DAQ

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Chemical Engineering

Tools

Siemens PLC

Allen-Bradley PLC

Dewesoft

NI PXI/CompactDAQ

Job description

Prometheus Energetics is an independent U.S.-based merchant supplier of solid rocket motors and warheads. A joint venture between Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Prometheus combines U.S. industrial speed and credibility with decades of combat-proven designs, manufacturing know-how, and technical training to deliver field-ready products at scale.

Position Summary

Prometheus Energetics is seeking an experienced Test Engineer / Senior Test Engineer to serve as a primary technical authority for solid rocket motor test operations, owning the design, integration, commission, and lifecycle support of propulsion and energetic test infrastructure. Reporting directly to the Director of Engineering, this role establishes an independent, high-rigor test engineering capability as Prometheus Energetics transitions from facility startup into high-rate production. The role encompasses the full spectrum of SRM test execution—from development and R&D static fires through formal qualification, production acceptance, and flight test support. The ideal candidate brings 4-10 years of hands-on propulsion test stand operations, data acquisition architecture, hazard containment, and test-like-you-fly (TLYF) execution experience, ensuring the highest standards of safety, data fidelity, and mission success.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, commission, and sustain scalable propulsion test stands and ground support equipment (GSE) supporting subscale, development, qualification, and production acceptance static firings.
• Design and integrate high-pressure pneumatic, hydraulic, and fluid delivery systems for remotely operated test stand configurations.
• Architect industrial electrical and control systems for test cell operations, including low-voltage power distribution, grounding/bonding, safety interlocks, PLC automation (e.g., Siemens/Allen-Bradley), and abort logic.
• Select, integrate, and maintain high-speed data acquisition (DAQ) hardware (kHz to MHz sampling rates) and sensor suites, including load cells, high-frequency pressure transducers, thermocouples, accelerometers, strain gauges, and radiometers.
• Develop and maintain automated test control sequences, DAQ configurations, and data processing tools using LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or PLC-based control logic.

Test Planning, Execution & Operations

• Lead the development of comprehensive test plans, standard operating procedures (SOPs), hazard analyses, pre-fire checklists, and countdown sequences for motor static firings and environmental screening (vibration, thermal, shock).
• Serve as Test Conductor or Lead Test Engineer during energetic operations, directing console operators, managing countdowns, and enforcing range and safety perimeters.
• Execute static fire campaigns, real-time telemetry monitoring, and immediate post-test safing, ensuring safe containment of toxic combustion products and high-pressure hardware.
• Champion Test-Like-You-Fly (TLYF) practices, ensuring ground test environments, line losses, and instrumentation configurations accurately reflect flight operational profiles.
• Support production acceptance testing (PAT) and scale test operations to support rapid motor production throughput.

Data Analysis, Reporting & Anomaly Resolution

• Process, filter, and analyze raw test data to deliver rapid post-fire summary packages, evaluating pressure-time traces, thrust curves, total impulse, ignition delay, and thermal/vibration environments.
• Correlate measured test data against predicted ballistic, thermal, and structural analytical models in collaboration with ballisticians and structural analysts.
• Lead root-cause investigations and failure review boards (FRACAS/MRB) for test cell anomalies, facility hardware failures, DAQ dropouts, or unpredicted motor performance behavior.
• Maintain rigorous test stand documentation, including sensor calibration logs, channel lists, facility P&IDs, electrical schematics, and test execution history.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Safety Leadership

• Partner closely with Propulsion, Manufacturing, Quality, Ballistics, and EHS teams to ensure hardware test-readiness and design-for-testability (DFT).
• Strictly enforce explosive safety regulations, including DoD 4145.26-M, range safety requirements, ordnance handling protocols, and pressure vessel safety standards.
• Participate in formal design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) to provide test perspective, instrumentation access plans, and verification evidence.
• Mentor junior test engineers and technicians, fostering a culture of operational discipline, safety, and technical excellence.

Experience and Skills

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline from an accredited university. (Associate's degree with 5+ years of relevant SRM experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor's degree.)

Experience:

• Test Engineer: Minimum of 4-6 years of hands-on experience in propulsion testing, energetic materials handling, rocket motor static firing, or high-hazard aerospace test operations.
• Senior Test Engineer: 7-10+ years of progressive experience owning test stand infrastructure, high-speed DAQ architecture, thrust stand design, and serving as Test Conductor for energetic operations.
• Instrumentation & DAQ: Proven expertise in selecting, installing, calibrating, and troubleshooting high-frequency sensors (pressure transducers, load cells, TCs, accelerometers) and high-speed DAQ architecture.
• Controls & Automation: Proficiency with high-speed data acquisition software and industrial control logic (e.g., LabVIEW, MATLAB, NI PXI/CompactDAQ, Dewesoft, or PLC platforms like Siemens).
• Hazardous Operations: Direct experience with explosive safety standards (DoD 4145.26-M or equivalent), high-pressure pneumatic systems (ASME/DOT), and hazardous material handling.
• Regulatory: U.S. Citizenship required (position involves ITAR/EAR restricted technology).
• Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance.
• Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Education Reimbursement

Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Pay Transparency

The company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.