Engineering Manager – Chemicals and Rockets in Penrose, Colorado at Estes Energetics

Voyager is an innovative defense, national security and space technology company committed to advancing and delivering transformative, mission-critical solutions. We tackle the most complex challenges to unlock new frontiers for human progress, fortify national security, and protect critical assets to lead in the race for technological and operational superiority from ground to space.

Forge the Future: Join Voyager Technologies

The future belongs to those who build it. At Voyager Technologies, we’re building technologies that protect lives, expand frontiers and prepare us for what’s next. And we’re doing that with people who are wired to solve, build, adapt and lead. These roles are not for the faint of heart. 

You’ll help lay the foundation for humanity's future. Join a culture where innovation thrives, curiosity is rewarded, and impact is real. We’re a company of doers, thinkers and builders, united by purpose and grounded in reality.

If you want to put your skills to work where the stakes are real and the mission is bigger than any one person, forge the future with Voyager.

Job Summary:

Voyager Technologies is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead our Chemicals and Explosives engineering team and our Rockets engineering team supporting our Colorado and Louisiana operations. In this role, you’ll help develop new chemical and manufacturing processes and support scale-up efforts aligned with our mission to reshore defense-critical domestic manufacturing. In this role, you will support the transition of developmentally designed rocket motors into production processes. This role requires deep technical expertise in chemical production and/or energetic materials, combined with demonstrated leadership and team development experience. The Engineering Manager will provide strategic and hands-on technical direction across process design, pilot demonstration, production scale-up, and manufacturing operations, while mentoring engineers and fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and technical excellence in a defense-focused environment. This position will directly support our Colorado operations focused on R&D and new product development projects, rocket motor design projects, and indirectly support our Louisiana operations focused on production.

Responsibilities:

Lead and mentor multi-disciplinary engineering teams responsible for process design, equipment design, equipment fabrication, pilot demonstration, production scale-up, manufacturing operations, and automation. Lead and mentor multi-disciplinary engineering teams responsible for mix, grind, cast of various types of energetic materials. Mentoring will include supporting personnel through the acquisition process from development, through various design reviews including preliminary and critical design reviews (PDR, CDR) as well as into low rate initial production (LRIP). Support engineering strategy, planning, and resource allocation in conjunction with engineering and project management leadership to meet performance, cost, schedule, and quality objectives in support of defense programs. Oversee development, review, and approval of engineering deliverables including requirements, models, procedures, design documentation, and risk assessments. Implement and maintain engineering processes, best practices, and continuous improvement initiatives that promote technical excellence and compliance with internal and government standards. Represent the engineering organization internally and externally, advocating technical positions and contributing to program status reviews. Support talent development through coaching, performance feedback, and identification of professional growth opportunities for engineering staff.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a related field. 5+ years of hands-on chemical engineering experience. 15+ years of hands-on mix, grind, and cast experience of both propellants and/or explosives. Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams and managing technical execution of complex engineering projects. U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance (as required).

Preferred Qualifications:

Process & Manufacturing Experience in a manufacturing environment (both propellant and chemical manufacturing). Experience standing up new manufacturing capabilities. Strong knowledge of common unit operations employed in chemical and propellant manufacturing. Expertise in electrochemistry, evaporator, crystallization, dewatering, drying, and/or packaging operations. Expertise in grinding, mixing, and casting energetic materials, chemical traceability, material lot tracking, Controls & Tools Experience with industrial automation (instrumentation, PLCs, communication). Experience with process modeling (Aspen, ChemCAD, MATLAB, or custom tools). Experience with CAD (especially SolidWorks). Hands-on Chemical laboratory experience (synthetic or analytical chemistry). Grind, Mix, and Cast experience Construction or fabrication experience (professional or personal). Personnel Management Demonstrated leadership through mentorship, team development, and talent pipeline building. Demonstrated success building and implementing management processes that scale with organizational growth. Risk Management Experience with identifying, tracking, and addressing risks, issues, and opportunities facing a project. Experience training others to recognize and assess potential risks. Communication Ability to communicate effectively across engineering, operations, program management, and leadership audiences. Experience conducting design reviews. Experience with supplier management, contracting engineering support, and external technical partnerships.

Voyager offers a highly competitive total compensation package designed to support the well-being, growth, and success of our employees. Employees benefit from a flexible and comprehensive rewards program that supports both professional and personal well-being.

Unlimited Flexible Time Off (FTO), empowering employees to take the time they need to recharge and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families, with a significant portion of premiums covered by the company and many benefits paid at 100% for employees. 401(k) retirement plan with a company match of up to 4% to help you build long-term financial security. Company wellness programs that support physical and mental well-being. Additional voluntary benefits and employee support resources. The opportunity to work alongside a highly talented team in an innovative, mission driven environment. Candidates must meet the eligibility requirements to obtain and maintain State and Federal explosives licenses. Requirements include: Must be at least 21 years of age Ability to pass State and Federal background checks Ability to obtain and maintain applicable State and Federal explosives licenses

When you join our team, you’re not just an employee; you become part of a dynamic community dedicated to innovation and excellence.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you 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.

Voyager is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. 

Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran

The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general content and requirements for performance of this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities, and requirements. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter the scope of work within the framework of this job description at any time without prior notice.

The pay range for this role is:160,000 - 225,000 USD per year(Penrose)