Rocket Propulsion Project Engineer

Nammo Defense Systems, Inc. (NDS) is a leader in Shoulder Launched Munitions and critical energetic systems that protect fighter pilots and support vital aerospace missions. At our Mesa, AZ facility, you’ll be part of a team that designs, builds, and supports life‑saving technologies—from composite rocket motors to high‑reliability crew egress systems.

Why this role maters

We’re looking for a passionate, hands‑on engineer ready to take ownership of engineering design, analysis, integration, and testing of composite solid propellant rocket motors. Your work directly influences the safety, performance, and reliability of systems used by fighter pilots around the world.

What you will do

• Drive day to day technical execution across CAD/PAD programs with expert guidance from senior engineers.
• Apply first principles thinking to solve structural, thermal, and internal ballistics challenges.
• Support design, analysis, testing, and production troubleshooting with a cross functional program team.
• Create clear, accurate engineering documentation including detailed drawings, analyses, test plans, and reports.
• Engage directly with internal teams and external customers to ensure program success.
• Participate in key program activities such as Change Review Boards, Phase Gate Reviews, IRAD planning, and failure investigations.
• Help continuously improve engineering processes and contribute to next generation CAD/PAD technologies.

Someone who is a curious, self driven, and eager problem-solver to grow in aerospace and defense engineering. You enjoy diving into challenging technical problems and working closely with teams that value rigor, creativity, and accountability.

What makes you successful here

• You apply first principles engineering to make sound, physics based technical decisions.
• You collaborate effectively across manufacturing, quality, operations, and program management.
• You communicate clearly and proactively, keeping programs moving and stakeholders aligned.
• You deliver high precision, release ready engineering work with minimal revisions.
• You identify root causes quickly and propose well reasoned, practical technical solutions.
• You stay organized, thorough, and focused—no detail escapes your attention.

• Competitive compensation
• Four day workweek (Mon–Thu, 10 hour days — Fridays off!)
• Generous PTO + holiday pay
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k), generous employer HSA contribution, and employee assistance programs
• Opportunities to shape the future of crew safety systems in aerospace

• Internal: Chief engineer, Director of Engineering, VP of Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Program Management, Proposals and Contracts Management, Executive Leadership Team, Project Engineering
• External: Customers (USG and Commercial), Suppliers

Project Engineers are empowered to act as technical authorities across proposals, discrepancy records, change proposals, drawings, work instructions, variance requests, and test documentation. You drive these decisions independently within defined program boundaries. When limits or risks are reached, escalation to the Chief Engineer—who holds final decision authority—is expected to maintain alignment with NDS’s standards and governance

Capabilities and behaviors

As a CAD/PAD Project Engineer you will apply fundamental engineering principles to every aspect of design, analysis, and testing. You will rely on first principles thinking to understand root causes, evaluate tradeoffs, and ensure technical decisions are grounded in physics-based reasoning rather than assumptions. Whether analyzing structural loads, thermal environments, or internal ballistics, you will use core engineering concepts to build accurate models, validate results, and document findings with clarity and rigor. Your discipline in applying these fundamentals ensures that design solutions are robust, reproducible, and aligned with the stringent technical standards required for CAD/PAD Critical Safety systems.  You will bring strong collaborative and communication skills, actively engaging with cross functional team members to solve problems and support program execution. You are self-motivated, eager to learn, and able to operate with limited supervision while maintaining a positive and solutions-oriented mindset. With a high level of emotional intelligence, you will navigate technical discussions and team dynamics professionally, contributing constructively to challenges and demonstrate resilience and adaptability in a fast-paced engineering environment. Above all, you approach each task as an opportunity to apply thoughtful, structured problem solving to drive successful outcomes for the program and the team.

Living our values

• Dedication: The CAD/PAD Project Engineer demonstrates dedication by consistently following through on engineering tasks to completion, proactively communicating status, and ensuring that daily work aligns with program priorities and commitments.
• Precision: The CAD/PAD Project Engineer practices precision by rigorously applying engineering standards, validating all calculations and drawings before release, and maintaining disciplined attention to detail in analyses, documentation, and change processes.
• Care: The CAD/PAD Project Engineer shows care by actively supporting team members, anticipating potential risks to product safety or quality, and making thoughtful decisions that uphold the integrity of the design, the production process, and customer trust.