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Director Explosive Engineer Jobs in Albuquerque, NM

Bachelors degree in Engineering * 10+ years in production/manufacturing operations or manufacturing ... explosives, pyrotechnics, or related energetic payloads -- with deep understanding of safety ...

Inspired by the engineering urgency of the WWII and Apollo eras, we combine rapid iteration ... explosives, pyrotechnics, or related energetic payloads -- with deep understanding of safety ...

... direct operational or engineering authority. * Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal ... ranges, explosives safety approvals, facility siting, or quantitative consequence modeling.

Director Explosive Engineer information

See Albuquerque, NM salary details

$14.5K

$233.9K

$375.1K

How much do director explosive engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for director explosive engineer in Albuquerque, NM is $233,893.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $193,900.00 and $290,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Director Explosive Engineer vs Explosive Engineer?

AspectDirector Explosive EngineerExplosive Engineer
CertificationsExplosive License, Safety CertificationsExplosive License, Safety Certifications
Work EnvironmentManagement, Project OversightField Work, Site Operations
ResponsibilitiesStrategic Planning, Team LeadershipDesigning, Testing, and Handling Explosives

The main difference between a Director Explosive Engineer and an Explosive Engineer lies in their roles. The Director focuses on management, planning, and overseeing explosive projects, while the Explosive Engineer is hands-on, involved in designing and handling explosives. Both roles require similar certifications and work in related environments, but their responsibilities differ significantly.

How much do explosive engineers get paid?

Explosive engineers typically earn between $60,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, certifications, and the industry sector. Senior or specialized roles, such as explosive safety managers, can earn higher salaries, especially with additional certifications and security clearances.

What are popular job titles related to Director Explosive Engineer jobs in Albuquerque, NM?

For Director Explosive Engineer jobs in Albuquerque, NM, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Director Explosive Engineer jobs in Albuquerque, NM look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Explosive Engineer jobs in Albuquerque, NM are:

Infographic showing various Director Explosive Engineer job openings in Albuquerque, NM as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, and 17% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $233,893 per year, or $112.4 per hour.

Production Director - NM

Galaxy Technology Hires LLC

Albuquerque, NM • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago


Job description

Production Director
Albuquerque, NM Area - Relocation Assistance Provided
The Company
Our client is a rapidly growing startup defense company that brings a new and innovative approach to the development and production of defense systems. They focus on short, iterative design cycles, with rapid developmental testing and modern commercial manufacturing strategies for production at scale.
The Job
Our client is seeking a Production Director to lead their Albuquerque based manufacturing operations, delivering hypersonic capability at scale to deter future conflicts In this pivotal leadership role, you will build and lead a world-class manufacturing operation, pushing for innovation and operational excellence that positions our client as the nation's premier hypersonics producer.
Functions
  • Define and execute strategy to scale all Albuquerque based production including solid rocket motor manufacturing, integration, and test and validation (HITL/VITL) from prototype to scaled production
  • Recruit, train/develop, and scale a diverse, high-performing 250+ employee manufacturing team (technicians, leaders, and manufacturing engineers)
  • Support the implementation and refinement of production software systems and tools (MES, ERP, PLM, etc)
  • Oversee day-to-day production and manufacturing operations - including production scheduling, capacity planning, resource allocation, inventory and supply-chain coordination, materials flow, and facility/equipment management
  • Forecast and manage operational and capital expenditures.
  • Develop, implement, and refine KPIs to measure performance.
  • Lead continuous process development and improvement efforts to optimize yield, throughput, manufacturing cost, and production reliability across all production lines
  • Establish and maintain a culture that prioritizes safety, quality, speed and continuous improvement.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering
  • 10+ years in production/manufacturing operations or manufacturing engineering
  • 5+ years in production/operations leadership
  • Demonstrated success in scaling a production operation from development/prototype to high volume production
  • Deep understanding of high-precision, complex aerospace hardware production - including metallic and composite fabrication, machining/welding/additive, tight-tolerance assembly, avionics, testing and acceptance, and NDE.
  • Skilled at interpreting raw data, identifying trends or anomalies, and translating findings into clear, data-informed strategies.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing, cross-functional team - including production staff, manufacturing engineers, quality, supply-chain, and operations personnel - with emphasis on building culture, accountability, and continuous improvement
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, and cross-functional collaboration skills to interface with engineering, quality, supply-chain, leadership, and possibly external partners or customers.
  • Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and compliance

Preferred Skills
  • Comfort operating in a fast-paced, high-stakes, high-reliability environment typical of aerospace/defense startups - able to make decisions under ambiguity, handle programmatic/contract demands, and adapt as priorities shift
  • Experience with manufacturing execution systems (MES/ERP/PLM), production data systems, material resource planning (MRP), and digital manufacturing workflows to manage operations, quality, change control, and configuration
  • Strong background in manufacturing engineering practices, operations excellence, and continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, process optimization, DFM/DFA, production flow and layout planning, tooling and automation)
  • Deep knowledge of aerospace manufacturing standards and regulatory frameworks (e.g., AS9100, NADCAP, applicable military/defense manufacturing standards), including quality management, audit readiness, compliance, and export-control/ITAR requirements
  • Extensive leadership experience (10-15+ years) in aerospace, defense, or high-complexity manufacturing, including several years at the sr. manager or director level leading cross-functional teams
  • Demonstrated experience with manufacturing or production of energetic materials or systems - including propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics, or related energetic payloads - with deep understanding of safety, process control, and qualification requirements

Important Leadership Qualities
  • Bias to Action and Creative Problem Solving. Desire and experience questioning assumptions in ways that lead to break through ideas that are ultimately implemented. Successfully bring in applicable processes/concepts/materials from other industries to achieve efficiency gains. Ability to personally resolve minor issues in development without requiring significant support.
  • High Commitment, High Initiative. A successful candidate will have a genuine passion for our client's mission and consistently look for ways to contribute to the company's technical goals and prevent hardware blockers. Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere. Strong sense of accountability and integrity.
  • Clear Communicator. Proactively communicates blockers. Trusted in previous roles to be voice of company with regulators, suppliers, gate keepers and customers. Capable of tactfully managing relationships with stakeholders to achieve company-desired outcomes without compromising relationships. Emails, IMs and verbal interactions are logical, drive clarity, and detailed enough to eliminate ambiguity.