Chief Engineer Pyrotechnic Mechanism

Amro Fabricating Corporation•Mukilteo, WA

About The Position

We are seeking a Chief Engineer to serve as a company-wide authority for the mechanical and structural design of pyrotechnic mechanisms. This role combines deep technical ownership with program-level leadership: guiding requirements interpretation, tailoring standards and processes to program needs, and actively managing risk. The Chief Engineer will ensure that pyrotechnic devices — including cutters, initiators, separation joints, and energetically actuated release systems — are safe, robust, producible, and compliant. This is both a technical and leadership role: driving designs from CAD to qualification, mentoring engineers, and representing engineering decisions to program managers, customers, and safety boards. Karman Space & Defense provides concept-to-production solutions for mission-critical systems on spacecraft, launch vehicles, missiles, hypersonics, and integrated defense systems. We believe that solving the industry’s most complex and mission-critical challenges requires relentless determination and a willingness to push the boundaries of possibility. Karman Space & Defense brings to bear unparalleled production capabilities, unmatched engineering expertise, and unflinching analysis to render the impossible, possible.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering field (Master’s or PhD preferred).
15+ years of experience in the design and qualification of pyrotechnic or energetic mechanisms in aerospace, defense, or related industries.
Deep knowledge of energetics, ignition systems, detonation/deflagration physics, and mechanism actuation principles.
Proven record of leading multidisciplinary teams and serving as a technical authority.
Demonstrated expertise in safety and compliance for energetics handling, storage, and testing.
Strong familiarity with DoD and NASA regulations governing energetic systems.
Hands-on experience with test planning, execution, and data reduction for pyrotechnic devices.
Excellent communication skills; capable of representing the company to customers, suppliers, and regulators.
Must be a U.S. Citizen

Responsibilities

Lead development of pyrotechnic mechanisms (initiation systems, separation systems, release devices, cutters, etc) from conceptual design through qualification and low-rate production.
Translate system-level requirements into mechanical/structural solutions.
Identify implied and derived requirements early to prevent scope creep and misinterpretation.
Develop and enforce design guidelines, analysis methodologies, and test plans to ensure robustness and repeatability of pyrotechnic devices.
Define DFM/DFA practices and ensure manufacturability with suppliers and internal manufacturing teams.
Provide hands-on oversight during build, test, qualification, and flight operations of energetic systems.
Own technical risk management for pyrotechnic hardware: identify key risks (design, materials, manufacturing, testing), maintain risk registers, and drive mitigation actions.
Tailor standards, processes, and qualification approaches to program needs — balancing rigor, cost, and schedule while maintaining compliance.
Lead design and safety reviews, documenting rationale for tailoring and maintaining alignment with customer and regulatory expectations.
Support proposal efforts by defining scope, risk, and technical approach for new business opportunities.
Represent mechanisms engineering in customer meetings, technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and safety boards.
Mentor and develop engineers, growing in-house expertise in mechanism design and pyrotechnics.