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Weapon Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

What if you could use your engineering skills to transform the U.S. Navy's directed energy portfolio? As a Laser Weapon System Test Engineer and Scientist, you understand the power behind complex ...

Operational Space Weapon Systems SME

Colorado Springs, CO · On-site

$68.50K - $92.60K/yr

Operational Space Weapon Systems SME KBR is seeking an Operational Space Weapon Systems Subject ... Bachelor's degree in engineering, systems engineering, physics, operations research, or closely ...

Operational Space Weapon Systems SME

Colorado Springs, CO · On-site

$68.50K - $92.60K/yr

Operational Space Weapon Systems SME KBR is seeking an Operational Space Weapon Systems Subject ... Bachelor's degree in engineering, systems engineering, physics, operations research, or closely ...

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Weapon Engineering information

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$86.5K

$121.4K

$165.5K

How much do weapon engineering jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 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 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 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 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.

More about Weapon Engineering jobs
What cities are hiring for Weapon Engineering jobs? Cities with the most Weapon Engineering job openings:
What states have the most Weapon Engineering jobs? States with the most job openings for Weapon Engineering jobs include:
Infographic showing various Weapon Engineering job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 29% Full Time, and 71% Part Time. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $121,377 per year, or $58.4 per hour.
Weapon Systems Solutions Engineer, Lead with Security Clearance

Weapon Systems Solutions Engineer, Lead with Security Clearance

Booz Allen Hamilton

Eglin Air Force Base, FL

Other

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 18 days ago


Booz Allen Hamilton rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 47 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

8th of 57 rated business consultants


Job description

Job Number: R0237466 Weapon Systems Solutions Engineer, Lead The Opportunity : Are you looking for an opportunity to combine your technical skills with big picture thinking to make an impact on national security? You understand your customer's environment and how to develop the right systems for their mission. Your ability to translate real-world needs into technical specifications makes you an integral part of delivering a customer focused engineering solution. We are seeking a highly experience d supervisory Lead Engineer to spearhead our engineering solutions team in delivering innovative high-performing systems for the U.S. Air Force ( USAF ) . You will lead the design, development, and integration of complex systems for air-to-ground and air-to-air weapon s in highly classified environments, with a strong emphasis on hard war e systems architecture design, cable assembly design, electro-mechanical system development, weapon mission planning, and weapon cybersecurity. This role requires exceptional leadership, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of USAF weapon s systems to support our mission of transforming the Air Force's portfolio through advanced technologies. What You'll Work On: * Lead a team of engineers in designing, developing, and integrating systems for USAF air-to-ground and air-to-air weapon s, focusing on large systems architecture development, including hard war e and sof t war e integration of Commer cia l Off-The-Shelf ( COTS ) electronics, ensuring compliance with security protocols in highly classified environments.
* Develop and oversee system architectures, ensuring robust cable or interface design and seamless hardware and software integration of weapon s and aircraft interfaces.
* Collaborate with partner companies for the engineering, manufacturing, and development ( EMD ) of sensors and Line Replaceable Units ( L RUs ) .
* Ensure systems meet USAF specifications, standards, and mission requirements, including secure integration and interoperability.
* C ond uct system testing, validation, and verification to ensure performance, reliability, and compliance with mission objectives.
* Utilize working knowledge of DoD simulation environments such as Sof t war e-in-the-Loop ( SITL ) and Hard war e-in-the-Loop ( HITL ) operations to validate system designs and control algorithms, incorporating imaging scene generation and six degrees of freedom ( 6 DOF ) technologies.
* Implement anti-tamper measures, c ond uct penetration testing, perform vulnerability assessments, and apply reverse engineering techniques to secure weapon s systems.
* Oversee mission planning from both weapon s and aircraft perspectives, ensuring alignment with operational needs.
* Provide supervisory technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers, fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment.
* Prepare and present technical reports, documentation, and briefings to stakeholders, including government clients.
* Stay abreast of advancements in AI and ML, fundamental aerospace technologies, cybersecurity, and mission planning to drive innovation and enhance munitions operational capabilities. Join us. The world can't wait. You Have: * 15+ years of experience in engineering or technical leadership roles, including systems integration in the aerospace or defense industry
* 5+ years of experience leading teams of scientists and engineers
* Experience with simulation environments such as Sof t war e-in-the-Loop ( SITL ) and Hard war e-in-the-Loop ( HITL ) , including imaging scene generation, six degrees of freedom ( 6 DOF ) technologies, dynamic real-time multispectral scene generation, projection, and injection, midcourse and navigation simulation, datalink and radio communication simulation, and high-frame-rate real-time computing or simulation
* Experience with cable design, systems architecture, and integration of COTS sensors into larger systems
* Experience with engineering tools and sof t war e such as PENCURV, AFSIM, CAD, MATLAB, or Simulink
* Experience with cybersecurity measures specific to weapon s systems, including anti-tamper technologies, penetration testing, reverse engineering, and vulnerability assessment
* Knowledge of USAF air-to-ground and air-to-air weapon s systems subcomponents and interfaces with aircraft, including fuze and war head, mission computing, outer mold line and actuation, seeker or ins, weapon s mission planning, propulsion, full rate production or manufacturing, and qualification or flight testing
* Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices for integrating COTS components into secure systems
* Secret clearance
* Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Aerospace Engineering Nice If You Have: * Experience leading engineering teams and managing projects in a fast-paced defense industry environment
* Experience with USAF standards, regulations, and acquisition processes
* Experience in Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis ( MS & A )
* Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering ( MBSE ) tools such as Cameo or Rhapsody
* Experience with Network Collaborative Autonomy
* Experience with cybersecurity frameworks and standards relevant to defense contracting such as NIST SP 800-171 or DoD Information Technology Security Certification and Accreditation Process ( DITSCAP )
* Knowledge of advanced technologies such as AI and ML, cloud services, and data war ehousing
* Possession of excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
* Top Secret clearance
* Master's degree Clearance: Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information ; Secret clearance is required. Compensation At Booz Allen, we celebrate your contributions, provide you with opportunities and choices, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, work-life programs, and dependent care. Our recognition awards program acknowledges employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our values. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in Booz Allen's benefit programs. Individuals that do not meet the threshold are only eligible for select offerings, not inclusive of health benefits. We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Resource page on our Careers site and reviewing Our Employee Benefits page. Salary at Booz Allen is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual's particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected compensation range for this position is $99,000.00 to $225,000.00 (annualized USD). The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of Booz Allen's total compensation package for employees. This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date. Identity Statement As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud. Candidate AI Usage Policy AI is a part of our daily work at Booz Allen, and we are committed to the responsible and ethical use of AI tools. However, we want to ensure a fair candidate process based on your own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or other tools to assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is prohibited unless permission is explicitly provided. Work Model Our people-first culture prioritizes the benefits of collaboration, whether it occurs in person or virtually. To support engagement and effective communication, employees working virtually are generally expected to have their cameras on during meetings. * Remote: If this position is listed as remote, there may still be occasions when you are required to work in person at a Booz Allen or customer facility.
* Hybrid: If this position is listed as hybrid, you will be expected to work from a Booz Allen facility frequently, in alignment with leadership expectations and the needs of the role. You may also be required to work from or visit a customer facility.
* Onsite: If this position is listed as onsite, work will primarily be performed at a Booz Allen office or customer facility, where employees will collaborate directly with colleagues and customers as required by the role. Commitment to Non-Discrimination All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local, or international law.

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About Booz Allen Hamilton

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Booz Allen Hamilton is a leading provider of management and technology consulting services to the US government in defense, intelligence, and civil markets. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, the firm also serves major corporations, institutions, and not-for-profit organizations. Founded in 1914 by Edwin G. Booz, the company has a long-standing tradition of helping clients achieve success by delivering a wide range of consulting services that include strategic planning, human capital and learning, communication, systems development, and others. The company's mission is to empower people to change the world, and it has a reputation for maintaining the highest standards of integrity and-excellence.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

McLean, VA, US

Year founded

1914