Director of Engineering / Chief Engineer (Prometheus)

Job Description: Prometheus Energetics LLC is currently seeking a Director of Engineering (Chief Engineer) to lead the technical execution, production ramp-up, and knowledge transfer required to establish Prometheus as a scalable, independent manufacturer of solid rocket motors (SRMs). Prometheus Energetics is a new US-based joint venture and will be a merchant supplier of solid rocket motors, energetics, and adjacent product areas for the US and international defense markets. This position oversees and directs all engineering functions through multiple levels of management, technical leads, and program teams. The Director of Engineering is responsible for standing up production-ready propulsion capabilities, leading the transfer of technical data packages and manufacturing know-how from parent companies, and building a self-sustaining U.S.-based engineering organization capable of supporting multi-line rate production. This role owns engineering readiness for production, configuration control integrity, and the structured capture and institutionalization of technical knowledge. Has overall responsibility for engineering planning, staffing, ramp-up execution, technical baseline control, and approval of engineering methods, standards, and production-support processes. Responsibilities: Production Ramp-Up & Industrialization Lead engineering execution to achieve production readiness across multiple SRM product lines Translate designs and parent company technical data packages into fully producible, rate-capable manufacturing baselines Establish and own Engineering Readiness Levels (ERL) aligned to production milestones Drive design for manufacturability (DFM), design for assembly (DFA), and producibility improvements Partner with Operations to support line qualification, tooling validation, process certification, and yield improvement Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions during early production ramp Ensure robust margin management and performance stability during scale-up Knowledge Transfer & Technical Baseline Ownership Serve as the owner of the knowledge transfer process from parent companies to Prometheus Lead structured transition of:Establish processes to convert transferred knowledge into controlled, U.S.-owned configuration baselines Technical data packages (TDPs) Manufacturing process documentation Materials specifications and propellant formulations Test data history and qualification artifacts Lessons learned and tacit manufacturing knowledge Implement documentation control and digital engineering systems to prevent knowledge loss Ensure independent analytical capability and technical authority resides within Prometheus Build internal subject matter expertise to reduce reliance on parent-company support over time Solid Rocket Motor Engineering Oversight Lead design and manufacturing engineering support for all SRM system and subsystem level designs Oversee ballistic, thermal, structural, testing, and performance analyses required to support production certification Ensure configuration control discipline across all hardware revisions and customer baselines Lead production-support engineering during static fire testing and qualification events Cross-Functional Production Support Partner with Operations to optimize production, fix problems, and support process improvement Partner with Quality to ensure engineering requirements are embedded in inspection and acceptance criteria Support explosive safety documentation and compliance in coordination with Safety & Security Provide engineering leadership during customer audits, production readiness reviews, and rate readiness assessments Support proposal and capture efforts with producibility-informed technical volumes Organizational & Talent Development Build and lead an engineering organization structured for rate production support Determine staffing plans aligned to production line expansion Develop internal technical leaders and subject matter experts in key propulsion disciplines Create structured onboarding and training programs to accelerate workforce capability Foster a culture of technical rigor, safety, accountability, and execution discipline Reports to: Chief Operating Officer Experience and Skills: Qualifications: Demonstrated expertise in solid rocket motor design and production Experience transitioning from development to full rate manufacturing Proven experience managing technical data packages and configuration baselines Experience executing structured knowledge transfer between organizations Strong understanding of systems engineering, configuration management, and production control processes Experience supporting DoW production programs and customer oversight Strong executive-level communication skills and ability to brief government and industry leadership Ability to maintain sensitive and classified information as required by government standards Ability to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance Must be a US Citizen due to the nature of the work Education and Experience: BS from accredited institution in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering (other related degrees will be considered). Advanced degree highly desired 15+ years of progressive SRM engineering experience 10+ years of engineering leadership experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing environments Direct experience in production ramp-up or industrial transfer highly desired Work Environment: Office, factory, and explosive test facility environments Ability to stand and sit for long periods of time Ability to work in hazardous material and explosive environments with appropriate PPE Ability to lift up to 25 pounds Location: Bloomfield, Indiana area Travel Required: Moderate during production ramp-up and knowledge transfer phases, including domestic and international travel as required Job Benefits: Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance 401(k) Savings Plan Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) Paid Time-Off (PTO) Holidays Education Reimbursement Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws. Disability Accessibility Accommodation If you require an accommodation to navigate or apply to our careers site, please send your request to HRAccessibility@kratosdefense.com or call 858-964-2916. Any inquires not related to requesting an accommodation will be discarded. Pay Transparency The company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Job Applicant Privacy Notice For applicants in the EU and California residents, please review our privacy notice. From: Kratos Defense