Cowboy Space
Ordnance Engineer
$140K–$200K
Kent, Washington · On-site · Full-time · Posted Sep 14, 2026
- Experience
- 5-10 years of experience in ordnance, pyrotechnics, or energetic systems on launch vehicles, missiles, or spacecraft.
- Education
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, chemical, or electrical engineering, or similar.
- Visa sponsorship
- Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
About the job
Defines and qualifies vehicle ordnance systems and manages the safe procurement, storage, shipping, handling, and use of energetics.
What you'll do
- Define the vehicle’s ordnance architecture and select, specify, and qualify energetic devices and initiation trains.
- Own initiation-chain analyses, environmental and susceptibility assessments, and hardware qualification campaigns.
- Establish and manage explosives safety plans, licensing, and compliance for energetics on the ground.
What they ask for
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, chemical, or electrical engineering, or similar.
- 5-10 years of experience in ordnance, pyrotechnics, or energetic systems on launch vehicles, missiles, or spacecraft.
- Hands-on experience taking an ordnance device or initiation train through qualification.
- Working command of MIL-STD-1576 and explosives safety requirements, plus electrical fluency with firing chains and knowledge of energetic materials.
Nice to have
- Flight termination ordnance experience, including thrust termination charges and linear shaped charges.
- Energetic materials expertise, explosives site or magazine licensing experience, or pyroshock test and analysis experience.
Pay
$140,000 - $200,000 annually (base salary)
Tools
MIL-STD-1576, MIL-STD-464, ESD, ATF, DOT, DESR 6055.09, DoD 4145.26-M, NASA-STD-7003
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative