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Weapon Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Quality Engineer/Weapon Production Quality

Livermore, CA · On-site

$84K - $109K/yr

These positions are in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED)/Weapon Technologies and Engineering (WTE) Program, supporting the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Principal Directorate. This ...

Quality Engineer/Weapon Production Quality

Livermore, CA · On-site

$84K - $109K/yr

These positions are in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED)/Weapon Technologies and Engineering (WTE) Program, supporting the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Principal Directorate. This ...

Quality Engineer/Weapon Production Quality

Livermore, CA · On-site

$84K - $109K/yr

These positions are in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED)/Weapon Technologies and Engineering (WTE) Program, supporting the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Principal Directorate. This ...

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Weapon Engineering information

See salary details

$86.5K

$121.4K

$165.5K

How much do weapon engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for weapon engineering in the United States is $121,377.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $107,500.00 and $132,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is weapon engineering?

Weapon engineering is a specialized field of engineering focused on the design, development, testing, and maintenance of weapons and defense systems. This discipline combines principles from mechanical, electrical, and materials engineering to create technologies for military and security applications. Weapon engineers work on a wide range of projects, including firearms, explosives, missiles, and advanced defense technologies. They ensure these systems are effective, reliable, and safe to use in various operational environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a weapon engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Weapon Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical or electrical engineering, physics, and mathematics, typically supported by an engineering degree and relevant security clearances. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and defense industry standards, as well as certifications like Professional Engineer (PE), are commonly required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills for this role. These skills and qualifications ensure the safe, innovative, and precise development of advanced weapon systems under strict regulatory and safety standards.

What are some common challenges faced by weapon engineering professionals in a collaborative team environment?

Weapon engineering professionals often work in multidisciplinary teams that include mechanical, electrical, and software engineers, as well as project managers and defense specialists. A common challenge is ensuring seamless communication and integration across these diverse areas to meet strict safety, performance, and regulatory standards. Balancing innovation with compliance, adhering to tight project timelines, and maintaining confidentiality are also key aspects of the role. Successful professionals develop strong collaboration and problem-solving skills to navigate these complexities and deliver reliable, effective weapon systems.

What is the difference between Weapon Engineering vs Mechanical Engineering?

AspectWeapon EngineeringMechanical Engineering
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical, Electrical, or Weapon Systems Engineering; possibly security clearancesBachelor's or higher in Mechanical Engineering; professional licensure often preferred
Work EnvironmentDefense labs, military facilities, manufacturing plantsFactories, design firms, research labs
Industry UsageMilitary, defense contractors, aerospaceAutomotive, aerospace, manufacturing, energy

Weapon Engineering focuses on designing, developing, and testing weapon systems, often within defense and military contexts. Mechanical Engineering has a broader scope, involving the design and analysis of mechanical systems across various industries. While both roles require strong engineering fundamentals, Weapon Engineering emphasizes specialized knowledge of weapon systems and security clearances, whereas Mechanical Engineering offers more diverse career paths.

Is weapon engineering a good career?

Weapon engineering is a specialized field involving the design, development, and testing of weapon systems, often requiring a background in engineering, physics, or related sciences. It typically involves working in secure environments with strict safety and security protocols, and may require security clearances and certifications. The career offers opportunities in defense, aerospace, and government sectors, with a focus on technical skills and problem-solving.

What does a weapon engineer do?

A weapon engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains weapon systems, including firearms, missiles, and other military or defense-related equipment. They often work with specialized tools, computer-aided design (CAD) software, and adhere to strict safety and regulatory standards. Their role may also involve analyzing performance data and improving weapon efficiency and safety.
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What cities are hiring for Weapon Engineering jobs?

Cities with the most Weapon Engineering job openings:

What states have the most Weapon Engineering jobs?

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Infographic showing various Weapon Engineering job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 33% Internship, and 67% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $121,377 per year, or $58.4 per hour.

Weapon Systems Architect

Fort Walton Beach, FL • On-site

$199K/yr

Other

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

The Weapon System Architect serves as technical authority for the Long Range Weapon, owning the thread from requirement through fielded configuration. This role decomposes operational requirements into system and subsystem specifications, maintains the functional and physical architecture across a family of weapon variants, and holds interface definition and control for weapon-to-host-platform integration across the bomber and fighter fleet. The architect establishes verification criteria at the point requirements are written, preserves traceability through modeling, integration, and test, and maintains configuration control so that the specified article, the tested article, and the delivered article remain the same article. Where emerging threats drive change, the architect determines what moves in the baseline, what regresses, what must be re-verified, and whether the change can be qualified and produced inside the window the threat allows.

Because a long range weapon spends most of its life in production and sustainment, this role carries substantial production and lifecycle weight. The architect works the manufacturing baseline alongside the technical one — assessing producibility of design changes, evaluating supplier submittals against specification, supporting qualification of alternate sources, and analyzing cost and schedule consequences of insertion timing against lot cut-in points. The role owns technologies across the lifecycle: DMSMS and obsolescence exposure planning, procurement of parts decisions, component refresh sequencing, and qualification cost for each candidate insertion as well as what candidates to carry through EMD into production. The architect supports engineering change proposals and VECPs, contributes the engineering basis for pricing and negotiation positions, and provides the technical foundation for production readiness and milestone decisions.

Requirements
  • U.S. citizenship required
  • Active TS clearance required; SCI eligibility preferred
  • Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline; advanced degree preferred
  • Engineering background in weapon or missile systems — RF, seeker, guidance, propulsion, structures, or low observable
  • Demonstrated production and lifecycle experience on a fielded system
  • Production configuration management, supply chain risk, and obsolescence management
  • On-site at Eglin AFB, FL
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