Manager of Payload Systems and Integration

Mach Industries•Huntington Beach, CA

About The Position

Mach is seeking a Manager of Payload Systems and Integration to own and deliver payload capability across our munition platforms—from early concept through real-world deployment. This role is about owning outcomes, driving execution, and closing the gap between design and deployment. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role for someone who wants to directly shape systems that reach the field quickly. You will be responsible for ensuring payload systems are designed correctly, fully integrated into our vehicles, and proven through test and flight operations. You will work in tight coordination with our Vehicle Leads and Test & Flight Operations team to rapidly iterate and deliver mission-ready capability to the warfighter.

Requirements

5–10+ years of experience in munitions, missile systems, or energetics
Proven track record owning design, integration, verification, and validation of complex hardware systems
Strong technical background in warhead / energetics design and/or weapon system integration
Experience developing requirements, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), test and validation strategies, and SOPs
Experience operating in Flight test, range, or live-fire environments
Familiarity with fuze safety and arming requirements, including experience working with DoD/Service safety boards (e.g., Fuze Safety Review Board) and relevant MIL-STD guidelines

Nice To Haves

Experience delivering payloads on missiles, loitering munitions, or unmanned systems
Background in system-level design and trade studies
Experience in fast-paced or early-stage engineering environments

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end payload system, including warhead, fuzing, energetics, and effects
Own integration of payloads into operational platforms, ensuring performance at the full system level
Define and maintain System requirements and Interface Control Documents (ICDs)
Develop and own standard operating procedures (SOPs) for handling, Integration, and Ground operations of energetic systems
Ensure payload systems are safe, repeatable, and operationally executable across engineering, test, and field environments
Work directly with Vehicle Leads to drive system architecture, constraints, and tradeoffs
Ensure payload designs are practical, manufacturable, and mission-aligned including working with internal and external supply chain and manufacturing teams
Own the verification and validation strategy for payload systems
Develop test plans, evaluation methodologies, and acceptance criteria tied to system requirements and mission outcomes
Execute alongside test and flight ops teams to conduct ground testing, flight testing, and live-fire events
Rapidly iterate designs based on real-world test data
Validate handling, integration, and operational procedures through ground and flight test activities
Serve as the payload lead during test campaigns and flight operations
Support range events, demos, and field deployments
Drive tight iteration loops between design → test → analysis → deployment
Own payload readiness across prototype, validation, demonstration, and fielding
Deliver systems that meet targets for performance, reliability, safety, and timeline
Translate mission needs into deployable, integrated payload capability