Product Development Engineer – Rifle - CCI Speer

The Kinetic Group•Lewiston, ID

7d•$80,000 - $130,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Kinetic Group is seeking a Product Development Engineer to lead and support rifle ammunition product development from concept through commercialization. The role involves designing, testing, validating, and documenting products and manufacturing processes, as well as implementing products in manufacturing and supporting continuous improvement. The position may be filled at the Engineer I, II, or III level based on education, experience, and demonstrated technical capability. Equivalent combinations of education, technical training, military experience, certifications, and directly related experience will be considered. The role is based at the CCI/Speer office in Lewiston, Idaho, and reports to the Director of Product Engineering. It offers the opportunity to develop ammunition products and technologies and address technical challenges affecting ballistic performance, reliability, precision, and effectiveness.

Requirements

For Engineer I: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Science, Mathematics, or related equivalent technical experience.
For Engineer I: 1–3 years of related experience.
For Engineer I: Working knowledge of engineering principles, materials, manufacturing processes, and problem-solving methods.
For Engineer I: Ability to perform moderate-scope engineering assignments using established practices and procedures.
For Engineer I: Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and hands-on troubleshooting capability.
For Engineer I: Ability to learn engineering tools, testing methods, and design practices applicable to ammunition development.
For Engineer II: Bachelor's degree and 2–6 years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree with applicable experience.
For Engineer II: Thorough understanding of product development processes and engineering fundamentals.
For Engineer II: Ability to independently manage portions of product development programs and technical projects.
For Engineer II: Proficiency in engineering analysis, experimental design, and statistical decision-making techniques.
For Engineer II: Experience identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions for product or process issues.
For Engineer II: Ability to lead smaller projects and serve as a technical resource within the product development team.
For Engineer II: Ability to communicate technical requirements effectively with suppliers, manufacturing teams, and cross-functional stakeholders.
For Engineer III: Bachelor's degree and 4–10 years of relevant experience, or a master's degree and 2–6 years of experience.
For Engineer III: Technical leadership capability to lead major product development programs and complex engineering initiatives.
For Engineer III: Advanced knowledge of ammunition design, manufacturing processes, materials, product validation, and performance analysis.
For Engineer III: Demonstrated ability to lead root cause investigations and complex technical problem-solving efforts.
For Engineer III: Experience developing and executing comprehensive test plans using statistical and engineering analysis methods.
For Engineer III: Ability to provide technical leadership across projects.
For Engineer III: Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts to leadership and non-technical stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience in rifle ammunition, firearms, ballistics, projectile design, cartridge design, or related product development.
Knowledge of advanced materials, manufacturing processes, and product validation methodologies.
Experience with statistical software such as Minitab or equivalent analytical tools.
CAD experience, including solid modeling and engineering drawing creation.
Experience supporting new product introductions in a manufacturing environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Hunting, shooting sports, handloading, firearms industry, or military experience.
Familiarity with internal and external ballistic testing methods.
Knowledge of ammunition industry standards and testing protocols.
Experience with tooling design and machining processes.

Responsibilities

Lead and support new rifle ammunition product development programs from concept through production launch.
Design, develop, test, validate, and document new products, components, and manufacturing processes.
Develop and maintain engineering specifications, bills of materials, qualification requirements, and technical documentation.
Plan and execute laboratory, range, and manufacturing trials to evaluate product performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
Analyze test data and apply engineering principles, statistical methods, and root cause analysis to support fact-based decision-making.
Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, and Operations teams to introduce new products and process improvements into production.
Assess manufacturing equipment capabilities and identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost.
Conduct failure analysis and resolve design, process, and production-related issues.
Collaborate with suppliers to qualify materials, components, and processes supporting product development objectives.
Support Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service teams with technical expertise, technical content review, and occasional industry events and customer engagements.
Ensure compliance with applicable safety, quality, regulatory, and company standards throughout the development process.