Senior Process Engineer, Energetics (Continuous Flow, RDX)

Critical Materials Group•Ballinger, TX

22h•Onsite

About The Position

Critical Materials Group (CMG) is developing an advanced domestic energetic-material manufacturing capability through a Continuous Flow RDX production system intended to improve safety, reproducibility, scalability, and manufacturing resilience. The Senior Process Engineer, Energetics is the senior technical execution lead and primary engineering authority for day-to-day execution of the RDX Program. The role coordinates facility construction, equipment installation, process integration, automation implementation, commissioning, startup, and operational readiness. The position serves as the technical integrator among process designers, automation providers, equipment vendors, construction contractors, Production, Operations, and Government stakeholders. As the foundational manufacturing capability for future CMG programs, the role establishes technical and execution standards that may be applied to CF HMX, PAX52, and AIME Formulation/LAP. The position is based primarily on-site in Ballinger, Texas, with travel as required to vendor, contractor, and equipment sites. It reports to the Deputy Head of Programs, has no direct reports, directs the daily activities of assigned technicians, and mentors the Process Engineer, Energetics (CF HMX).

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Process Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
At least 5 years of progressively responsible engineering experience.
Experience supporting the design, construction, startup, or operation of industrial process facilities.
Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams.
Experience managing contractors, vendors, and external engineering organizations.
Experience with hazardous chemical or energetic-material processes.
Skills in process scale-up and manufacturing implementation, process troubleshooting and optimization, commissioning and startup planning, process safety management, technical documentation development, and risk identification and mitigation.
Successful completion of a background check and drug screening.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
Experience with nitration chemistry, energetic materials, explosives, propellants, or munitions manufacturing.
Experience with continuous-flow chemical processing.
Experience with automation, PLC systems, and industrial controls.
Experience supporting DDESB approvals and explosives safety programs.
Experience supporting government-funded manufacturing programs.
Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

Serve as the on-site technical lead for the Continuous Flow RDX program and execute activities against approved cost, schedule, and technical baselines.
Support development and maintenance of detailed execution schedules; identify technical, schedule, and execution risks; and recommend mitigations.
Support program reviews, milestone demonstrations, and sponsor engagements.
Represent CMG engineering during facility construction and coordinate installation of process equipment, utilities, environmental systems, and supporting infrastructure.
Ensure facility layouts support operational, safety, maintenance, and production objectives; coordinate site-readiness requirements with Operations; and participate in construction acceptance and turnover.
Act as the primary engineering interface for externally developed process designs and evaluate designs for manufacturability, scalability, operability, and maintainability.
Lead process modifications needed to meet operational requirements and identify opportunities to improve yield, throughput, product quality, and efficiency.
Support process hazard analyses and operating-procedure development.
Coordinate with Automation & Digital Systems on process control strategies, instrumentation requirements, data collection architectures, monitoring systems, and operational dashboards; translate process requirements into automation requirements and support automation validation during commissioning.
Manage technical interactions with equipment suppliers, automation vendors, construction contractors, and engineering support contractors; review technical deliverables and equipment specifications; participate in factory and site acceptance testing; and align vendor activities with program objectives.
Lead commissioning planning and execution, develop startup plans and readiness checklists, coordinate dry runs and integrated system testing, resolve startup issues, and lead troubleshooting during commissioning and initial operations.
Coordinate with Production and Operations; develop operating procedures and engineering work instructions; support technician and operator training; ensure complete documentation and supporting data for system transitions; and support readiness reviews and turnover.
Support development and maintenance of Technical Data Packages, keep engineering documentation current and configuration-controlled, and review PFDs, P&IDs, equipment specifications, control narratives, operating procedures, and maintenance procedures.
Support production-transition documentation, explosives safety analyses, regulatory approvals, and compliance with OSHA Process Safety Management requirements, environmental regulations, explosives safety requirements, and site operating procedures.
Participate in hazard analyses and risk assessments and promote a strong safety culture.
Direct the daily activities of assigned technicians; coordinate matrixed resources from Production, Operations, Automation & Digital Systems, Safety & Compliance, and Finance & Contracts; mentor junior engineers; and establish replicable engineering and execution practices.
Within the first 12–18 months, integrate facility, equipment, and automation systems; lead commissioning and startup; establish a technical baseline for future CMG energetics manufacturing; implement process monitoring and data collection; deliver Technical Data Packages and operational documentation; enable transition to Production and Operations; and share practices and lessons learned with future programs.