Sr Prin R&D Engineer - SRM Ballistician (Remote)

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (OTS) is a global leader in the design, engineering, and production of munitions, energetics, weapons, armaments, and missile subsystems. OTS empowers the U.S. military and its allies with an extensive range of product segments applied across all levels of strategic and tactical operations. Our ethos of Honesty, Trust, Transparency, and Alignment guides everything we do, fostering a culture of integrity, innovation, customer satisfaction, and collaboration.

About the Role

We are seeking a Ballistician to join our Solid Rocket Motor Engineering Team. The ideal candidate will generate rocket motor concepts from high-level thrust/burn time requirements and refine them into detailed grain and nozzle designs. This role involves collaboration to define propellant grain geometries, optimize burn rates, thrust curves, and pressure profiles, and work with design engineers, analysts, chemists, and manufacturing engineers.

This is a full-time position with a 9/80 schedule, available remotely or at our Huntsville, AL or Hampton, AR facility.

Impact of the Role

Recognized as an expert within the company, this role requires in-depth expertise in ballistics and broad knowledge of related disciplines. You will solve unique problems with broad business impact, contribute to organizational strategy, and exercise discretion and judgment in decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research, design, and development activities to create new or improved products, processes, or services.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to optimize designs for manufacturability.
• Utilize CAD/CAE systems to model designs and produce detailed engineering drawings.
• Conduct market research, track projects, evaluate trade spaces, and design presentation materials.
• Apply technical expertise to learn complex systems and develop robust solutions.
• Evolve business strategy through technology assimilation, competitive research, and SWOT analysis.
• Develop technical documentation and communicate findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop rocket motor concepts to meet customer requirements.
• Refine grain geometries and optimize burn rates, thrust, and pressure curves in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Lead static fire test campaigns and ground-based prototyping; analyze test data to validate performance.
• Reduce strand burner, subscale, and full-scale motor data to determine burn rate properties of propellants.
• Oversee propellant casting, curing cycles, and review tool designs.

Requirements

• Associate’s Degree in Engineering (required).
• 10-12 years of relevant experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Ability to remain stationary at a desk/computer for extended periods.
• Regular movement throughout GD-OTS facilities.
• Up to 25% travel likely.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.
• Skills in product innovation, research, project scoping, quantitative analysis, and research documentation.
• Strong oral and written communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $156,000–$212,000 (USD). Individual pay is determined by job-related skills, experience, internal equity, and relevant education or training. Eligible for participation in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Program (ICP).

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, and basic life insurance.
• Pre-tax spending accounts and 401k plan with Non-Contributory Retirement Contribution.
• Voluntary benefits: Critical Illness, Accident, Identity Theft Protection, Legal Services, Auto/Home Insurance, Pet Insurance, Commuter Benefits, Hospital Indemnity, and Educational Assistance.
• Paid holidays, 120 hours of PTO annually, and up to 3 weeks of paid family leave.

Schedule

Full-time position with a 9/80 schedule.