Process Engineering Manager Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

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.

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.

The Process Engineering Manager will be located onsite in Pueblo, CO and reports to the Manufacturing Engineering Manager. This role is responsible for establishing a consistent framework and bringing cohesion across all manufacturing processes and procedural documentation within the organization - ensuring every document is written, structured, and maintained to a standard that the operations team can readily train on and execute. With 5-8 years of hands‑on process and manufacturing engineering experience, this individual drives a team of process engineers and serves as the technical and documentation leader for the organization across the full process lifecycle. In solid rocket motor and energetic materials manufacturing, process qualification is not a precursor to production - it is the gateway to it. This manager owns that gateway: leading the definition of process controls, qualification criteria, and production readiness gates that certify a process is ready for full rate production, then sustaining and continuously improving those qualified processes through their full production lifecycle. The role spans new process development through process qualification and production sustaining, with the documentation standard serving as the foundation across both.

• Own and enforce the Voyager Energetics documentation standard - establishing and maintaining a consistent writing style, structure, and reading level across all SOPs, work instructions, process specifications, and operational systems so that every document can be trained to and executed by the operations team with minimal ambiguity.
• Lead and develop a team of 5+ process engineers and senior process engineers, fostering a high-performance culture oriented around documentation quality, process rigor, safety, and continuous improvement - with a clear growth path toward sub-team management as the organization scales with new business.
• Mentor process engineers and senior process engineers across technical fundamentals, documentation standards, and process engineering best practices - actively investing in the growth of the team with an intentional orientation toward knowledge transfer, team self‑sufficiency, and building depth of capability that survives personnel transitions on mission‑critical programs.
• Own the end‑to‑end process lifecycle - from early development and feasibility through process qualification, production readiness, and sustained production - recognizing that in energetic materials and solid rocket motor manufacturing, process qualification is itself a production‑enabling function. Lead the definition of process controls, acceptance criteria, and production readiness gates that certify a process is ready for full‑rate production, then own the ongoing sustaining, improvement, and documentation of those qualified processes throughout their production lifecycle.
• Enforce process plan compliance and internal standards across all production operations, serving as the authoritative decision‑maker on process deviations, nonconformances, and corrective actions - with clear cross‑functional authority to require corrective action from any department impacting process or documentation integrity.
• Lead the standardization of existing Voyager‑format SOPs and work instructions into a unified documentation system, generating new documentation in the same voice and format to support onboarding, training, and operational readiness as new business lanes develop.
• Implement and drive Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies within production environments, delivering measurable improvements in safety, quality, reliability, cost, and throughput; develop and report on key process performance metrics such as yield, defect rates, cycle time, and SOP compliance rates.
• Prepare technical reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders to support planning, budgeting, process reviews, and program milestones; stay current with energetics processing and manufacturing industry trends.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Manufacturing, Manufacturing Development, Safety, and Compliance to embed process engineering and documentation standards into all phases of the product lifecycle, spanning short‑term development projects and long‑term manufacturing programs.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Chemical, Materials Science, or other relevant engineering discipline with 5 years of experience in process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related field OR Master’s degree in a relevant field with 3 years of experience OR 15 years of hands‑on process and manufacturing engineering experience in lieu of a degree.
• Demonstrated experience leading or significantly contributing to process qualification efforts in a manufacturing environment - including defining process controls, qualification criteria, and production readiness documentation - with an understanding that qualification is the engineering work that gates a process into production, not a step separate from it.
• Proven ability to author, standardize, and govern technical documentation - including SOPs, work instructions, and process specifications - to a consistent voice and reading level that the operations team can readily train on and execute; experience building or enforcing documentation standards across a team or organization is strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies (Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or equivalent) with demonstrated application in process improvement initiatives, including structured problem‑solving approaches to reduce waste, variability, and cycle time.
• Experience applying structured root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies (e.g., 8D, fishbone, 5‑Why) to manufacturing nonconformances and process deviations.
• Demonstrated people leadership or mentorship experience, with the ability to develop and hold accountable a team of engineers across documentation quality, process compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Strong self‑starter with the ability to enforce standards and drive compliance cross‑functionally, while maintaining strong working relationships across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Safety, and Compliance.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety culture and ability to operate within rigorous regulatory environments including OSHA, ITAR, and hazardous/energetic materials standards.

• Experience in aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing environments, particularly those with high regulatory burden (e.g., DFARS, ITAR, AS9100, or equivalent).
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification (Green or Black Belt) with demonstrated application in production environments.

• Travel up to 15%, including the possibility of overnights within the continental United States.
• Ability to lift, move, or carry items or equipment up to 50 pounds. Comfortable standing, walking, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, and crouching in a manufacturing environment; use of personal protective equipment required.
• Candidates must meet all eligibility requirements to obtain and maintain applicable state and federal explosives licenses, including minimum age requirements (21 and over), a drug‑free workplace in compliance with the Drug‑Free Workplace Act of 1988 (41 U.S.C. §§ 8101–8106), Executive Order 12564 (Drug‑Free Federal Workplace), applicable Department of Defense directives including DoD Instruction 1010.09 and DFARS 252.226‑7003, and successful completion of any legally required background investigations.
• 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.

The good faith base salary range for this role is $130,000 - $160,000 at the time of this posting. Where you fall within the range depends on your experience, skills, and location. This range reflects base salary only and does not include benefits or bonus/incentive. This range may be adjusted in the future.

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.
• Flexible, affordable gym memberships with 12,700+ options nationwide including 24 Hour Fitness, EoS Fitness, Crunch Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Blink Fitness, Chuze Fitness and more! No long‑term contracts and FREE on‑demand workout videos before you enroll.
• 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 - with a clear path to grow a team and own a critical operational function.

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.

Colorado pay range

$130,000 - $160,000 USD