Chemical Process Engineer

Responsible for development and support of processes for producing and manufacturing propellants and energetic materials. Activities include process method development, selection / validation of process equipment, managing a subscale laboratory and supplier development. Provides guidance and supervision to the organization regarding energetics subscale, pilot, and high-volume production, handling, storage, performance, and safety protocols of energetics systems. Also provides general chemical expertise in support of production operations.

1. Develops/creates/improves the understanding of process techniques for producing energetic materials from subscale level to pilot level to full, high-volume production.
2. Develops/improves the methodology and technology used to analyze test data from the process and evaluates the correlation between test data and predicted performance.
3. Supervises development efforts conducted by the company’s gas generant suppliers.
4. Creates development plans, statements of work (SOW), and designs of experiments (DOE). 
5. Develops and manages plans for regulatory and customer approvals.
6. Defines/manages the safety protocols and required internal, customer, and regulatory documentation.
7. Interfaces with program managers, project engineers and design engineers on technical matters.
8. Defines/creates/improves all APQP, process instructions, PFMEA, Control Plan and related documents.
9. Develops with the energetics development team computer software for the control and real-time review of processes/data and leads to review and understanding of the data.
10. Prepares intellectual property as needed.
11. Supervises/trains other technical personnel in basic energetics processing.

Performs other job-related duties as assigned. 

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 

B.S. in chemical engineering or chemistry (M.S. preferred) with at least 10 years “hands on” experience. Experience in handling, preparation, mixing, pressing, and extrusion of energetic ingredients and finished materials highly desired. Knowledge of automotive safety systems requirements, design, and validation standards (APQP, DMAIC, DFSS) highly desired. An understanding of process data acquisition systems is desired.