The Product Engineer is responsible for the design, development, testing, and continuous improvement of ballistic and blast protection products. This role supports the full product lifecycle—from initial concept and prototyping through qualification, scale-up, and sustained production—while ensuring compliance with customer requirements, applicable standards, and internal quality objectives.

This is a highly collaborative role that provides companywide technical product support and works closely with Sales, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to deliver technically sound, producible, and certifiable armor solutions. The Product Engineer plays a key role in maintaining compliance with NIJ 0101.06 and supporting the company’s transition to NIJ 0101.07, including upcoming certification and design implications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design ballistic and blast protection products based on customer requirements, threat definitions, and performance criteria provided by Sales and Management.
• Lead product development efforts from initial design concept through prototyping, testing, qualification, and full production implementation, ensuring designs are scalable, manufacturable, and repeatable.
• Provide technical support to the Sales Department as part of an Integrated Product Team (IPT), including proposal development, customer presentations, and technical clarifications.
• Serve as Project Engineer for proposals and special projects, overseeing technical scope, schedules, testing requirements, and compliance to contractual and performance specifications.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee ballistic, blast, and material testing activities with internal and external laboratories, including test planning, data review, and reporting.
• Conduct material baseline testing and evaluations; advise Procurement and Finance on material selection, substitutions, and potential improvements related to cost, performance, and supply risk.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Management to develop, implement, and refine manufacturing processes that support efficient production flow while maintaining required product quality and ballistic performance.
• Provide technical support to Procurement as part of the Vendor Evaluation Team (VET), including material qualification, supplier assessments, and technical risk evaluation.
• Support compliance with applicable standards and certifications, including NIJ 0101.06 and preparation for NIJ 0101.07, by contributing to design updates, test strategies, and documentation as requirements evolve.
• Maintain and support organizational quality standards through engineering documentation, controlled processes, and technical oversight.
• Support laboratory operations by ensuring test methods, equipment usage, and safety practices align with established procedures (hands-on lab work may be required as needed).
• Foster a cooperative, solutions-oriented environment across departments and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrate a strong sense of urgency, accountability, and customer focus.
• Perform related duties as required to support business objectives.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Materials, Chemical, Civil, or related discipline).
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in armor systems, ballistic products, or composite material design and manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of ballistic testing methodologies and standards; experience with NIJ 0101.06 required, with exposure to or involvement in NIJ 0101.07 transition efforts strongly preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, production-oriented environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interface effectively with customers, laboratories, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Comfortable presenting technical information to customers and stakeholders.
• Ability to lead technical efforts and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% as required.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office; familiarity with statistical analysis tools, test data evaluation, and basic programming or scripting is a plus.