Principal Engineer

MSM Group North America•St. Petersburg, FL

19d

About The Position

The Principal Engineer will serve as a senior technical expert within MSM North America, responsible for the design, development, analysis, testing, and production integration of ammunition and weapon systems. This role involves leading complex engineering programs, providing subject matter expertise across multiple disciplines, and ensuring technical compliance with U.S. and international defense standards. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in energetics, ballistics, and defense manufacturing, coupled with strong leadership skills and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Systems Engineering. Equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be considered.
Minimum 15 years of experience in the defense industry, preferably in ammunition, armament, or weapon systems design and testing.
Proven expertise in ballistics, energetics, fuzing, or mechanical system design for defense applications.
Experience with DoD MIL-STD, NATO STANAG, and ISO defense quality standards.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tolerancing, and materials for ordnance applications.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical data to management and government customers.
U.S. Citizenship required; must be eligible for a DoD security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience with small, medium, and large caliber ammunition.
Knowledge of energetic material and explosive sight safety certification process.
Experience with program management or technical leadership in defense development programs.
Familiarity with export-controlled projects and international collaboration protocols.

Responsibilities

Lead the engineering design, development, and transition to production qualification of ammunition and weapon systems in accordance with U.S. DoD, NATO, and international standards.
Serve as technical lead on major development programs, overseeing design reviews, test plans, and system integration activities.
Coordinate with R&D, production, and quality teams to ensure manufacturability, reliability, and compliance with contract requirements.
Interface with U.S. government agencies, international partners, and defense contractors to support design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and program milestones.
Develop and maintain detailed engineering documentation, including design specifications, interface control documents, and test reports.
Mentor and guide engineering staff, fostering a culture of technical excellence and innovation.
Support bid and proposal activities, providing technical input for scope definition, cost estimation, and risk assessment.
Ensure compliance with ITAR, EAR, and export control regulations in all technical exchanges.