Product Development Engineer – Handgun - CCI Speer

The Kinetic Group•Lewiston, ID

6d•Onsite

About The Position

CCI/SPEER, part of The Kinetic Group, is seeking a Product Development Engineer to lead and support handgun ammunition product development from concept through commercialization. The role includes design, testing, validation, manufacturing implementation, and continuous improvement, with a focus on developing ammunition technologies and improving ballistic performance, precision, reliability, and effectiveness. The position may be filled at 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 reports to the Director of Product Engineering and is based in the Lewiston, Idaho office.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

Thorough understanding and application of technical standards, principles, theories, and techniques relating to small arms ammunition.
Experience with 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.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while managing multiple priorities.
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

Provide project management and leadership for new handgun 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 decisions.
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 product development.