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Ordnance Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lead, Electrical Engineer

Cincinnati, OH

$153K - $160K/yr

Lead, Electrical Engineer Job Code: 37314 Job Location: Cincinnati, OH Job Schedule: 4/10: ... Circuit design and component selection, designing ruggedized electronics for ordnance applications ...

Lead Electrical Engineer

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$142K - $161K/yr

The company's Fuzing & Ordnance Systems designs ruggedized electronics for a variety of military ... engineers. == Prepare materials for and participate in design reviews. == Generate engineering ...

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Ordnance Engineer information

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$52K

$129.8K

$169.5K

How much do ordnance engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for ordnance engineer in the United States is $129,787.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $119,000.00 and $148,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering often earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and relevant certifications. Roles in management or with significant project responsibilities can also reach or exceed this salary level.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Ordnance engineers typically do not earn $500,000 annually; such high salaries are more common in executive, specialized engineering roles, or in industries like aerospace or defense at senior levels. Achieving this income often requires extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership responsibilities.

What are Ordnance Engineers?

Ordnance Engineers are professionals who design, develop, test, and oversee the production of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and related military equipment. They work to ensure the effectiveness, safety, and reliability of these systems for use by armed forces. Their roles may involve research, project management, field testing, and collaboration with other engineers and military officials. Ordnance Engineers often require knowledge in mechanical engineering, materials science, and ballistics. They play a critical role in national defense and safety.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Ordnance Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Ordnance Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical or chemical engineering, physics, and materials science, often supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAD software, ballistics modeling tools, and knowledge of military standards or safety certifications (such as DoD or ISO) are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills in this role. These abilities are essential for designing safe, reliable ordnance systems and ensuring compliance with rigorous safety and performance standards.

What are some common challenges faced by Ordnance Engineers in ensuring safety during weapons development projects?

Ordnance Engineers often encounter challenges related to maintaining the highest safety standards throughout the design, testing, and manufacturing processes. Handling explosive materials, conducting live-fire tests, and ensuring compliance with strict governmental regulations require meticulous attention to detail and rigorous risk assessments. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams—including safety officers, quality assurance specialists, and manufacturing personnel—is essential to identify and mitigate hazards. Staying current with evolving safety protocols and technological advancements is also crucial to prevent accidents and ensure reliable performance.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High-level positions often require advanced degrees, certifications, and working in high-demand industries or management capacities.

What is the difference between Ordnance Engineer vs Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician?

AspectOrdnance EngineerExplosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician
CredentialsEngineering degree, certifications in ordnance safetyExplosive ordnance disposal training, certifications in bomb disposal
Work EnvironmentDesign, testing, and manufacturing of ordnance in labs or factoriesField operations, bomb disposal sites, military or law enforcement settings
Industry UsageMilitary, defense contractors, manufacturingMilitary, law enforcement, specialized bomb disposal units

While both roles involve working with explosive devices, Ordnance Engineers focus on designing and testing ordnance, whereas EOD Technicians specialize in safely disarming and disposing of explosive devices in the field.

What is an ordnance engineer?

An ordnance engineer is a professional who designs, tests, and maintains military or industrial explosive devices, weapons, and ammunition. They often work in environments requiring safety protocols, technical knowledge of explosives, and may hold certifications in explosive safety or engineering. Their work supports defense, manufacturing, and safety operations related to ordnance systems.
More about Ordnance Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Ordnance Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Ordnance Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Ordnance Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Ordnance Engineer jobs include:
Senior Warhead Design Engineer

Senior Warhead Design Engineer

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA

Other

Posted 9 hours ago


Anduril rating

9.4

Company rating: 9.4 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

ABOUT THE JOB

We are looking for a Warhead Design/Test Engineer in Costa Mesa, Ca. with experience designing advanced explosive ordnances and or advanced munitions systems.

WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Design warheads and complex ordnance/munitions systems and transition them from prototype to production.
  • Quickly create high fidelity prototype parts to assess effectiveness by testing on the range.
  • Manage arena and system testing of munitions products from end-to-end, including project planning, design of experiments, and safety.
  • Capture test video, compile data from ground and flight tests, and analyze results.
  • Assemble/disassemble explosive test articles and precision targets.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • BS or higher degree in mechanical, aerospace, or another engineering discipline.
  • 2- 5+ years' work experience as an individual contributing engineer, focused on mechanical design, analysis, and testing of naval ordnance/munitions systems.
  • Experience creating complex mechanical designs using CAD tools such as SolidWorks or NX.
  • Test experience including data acquisition, data analysis, and project coordination.
  • Ability to travel as required for testing (surges up to 25%).
  • Experience preparing engineering documentation (i.e. specifications, test procedures, technical reports, drawings, etc.).
  • Passion for defending the United States and her allies.
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Active U.S. security clearance (DoD Secret or Top-Secret or DOE L or Q)
  • Expert level experience creating complex mechanical designs specific ordnance/munitions.
  • Experience with munitions testing.
  • Prior experience in explosive operations and/or handling munitions.
  • Experience with the DoD Weapons Safety Boards.
  • Experience designing and scaling production of mechanical components at volume.
  • Experience developing or testing complex electrical or mechatronics systems.

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About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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