Manufacturing Engineer at Estes Energetics – Pueblo, Colorado

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 is strengthening the defense industrial base by revitalizing the manufacturing of solid rocket motors. In support of this work, we are searching for a Manufacturing Engineer at our facility in Pueblo, CO. The Production Manufacturing Engineer will focus on transitioning energetic manufacturing processes and testing to a production standing. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 6 years of practical, hands-on experience in rocket propulsion, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or a similar field.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, monitor manufacturing systems, processes, procedures, and tooling for solid rocket motors and energetic materials.
• Work with a cross functional team to design new manufacturing processes and methodologies to support future production efforts or continuous improvement programs.
• Collaborate with team members to ensure adherence to industry standards in safety, quality, performance, and reliability.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives in a production environment, delivering measurable improvements in safety, quality, reliability, cost, and throughput
• Assist in implementation of continuous improvement programs and verify applicable programmatic specifications and standards are met.
• Prepare reports for internal and external stakeholders to support planning, budgeting, process, and technical reviews.
• Stay up to date with latest energetics processing and manufacturing industry trends.
• Serve as a production focused liaison for customer, regulatory, and third-party stakeholders.
• Oversee production operations for solid rocket motor design and assembly, energetic chemical formulation, and hazardous materials handling.
• Train personnel in procedures, standards, and best practices.
• Develop, monitor, and report on key performance metrics (e.g., yield, defect rates, nonconformances, customer and supplier scores).
• Create and review Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and other work instructions. Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing Development, Safety, and Compliance to embed production practices into all phases of the product lifecycle, spanning short-term development projects and long-term manufacturing programs.

Required Qualifications:

• BS in mechanical, aerospace, chemical, electrical, other relevant engineering field or equivalent experience
• Minimum 6 years of experience in manufacturing, automation, rocket propulsion development, chemical engineering, quality, safety or a similar field.
• Proven ability to implement Lean Manufacturing and 6 Sigma methodologies
• Eagerness to learn new ideas and put them into practice.
• Possess extensive, hands-on experience with inventory management systems
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to be a self-starter and solve complex problems from first principles with minimal supervision, both independently and as a member of a team.
• Champion a culture of quality and operational excellence across the organization.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain State and Federal explosives licenses, including:
• • Be 21 years of age or older.
  • Pass pre-employment drug test.
  • Pass State and Federal background checks.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with handling and testing of energetic materials.
• Experience with automated manufacturing systems
• Experience with production planning and scheduling
• CAD modeling experience (SolidWorks preferred).
• Hands on skills such as machining, prototype fabrication, carpentry, electronics, etc. 
• Interest in performing both conceptual tasks and hands-on tasks.

Voyager offers a comprehensive, total compensation package, which includes competitive salary, a discretionary annual bonus plan, paid time off (PTO), a comprehensive health benefit package, retirement savings, wellness program, and various other benefits. 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:
105,000 - 135,000 USD per year(Pueblo, Colorado)