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Weapons Engineer Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Leonardo DRS

Project Engineer

Burnsville, MN · Hybrid

$117K - $195K/yr

Sensors and Weapons Center of Excellence - Largo, FL * Submarine Combat Systems Center of Excellence - Twin Cities, MN The PE will be the Engineering lead on development programs and will be ...

BAE Systems

Mgr II- Program Eng

Maple Grove, MN · On-site

$149K - $254K/yr

BAE Systems Weapons System (WS) Product Line (PL) is looking for a Program Engineering Manager II (PEM II) to provide technical oversight and serve as the primary technical liaison for Radio ...

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Weapons Engineer information

What are common challenges weapons engineers face when working on multidisciplinary defense projects?

Weapons Engineers often collaborate with specialists in electronics, materials science, software, and systems engineering. One common challenge is integrating complex subsystems to ensure reliability and safety, while meeting strict military specifications. Effective communication and project management skills are essential, as projects usually involve cross-functional teams and tight deadlines. Staying updated with evolving technologies and regulations is also crucial for success in this field.

What does a weapons engineer do?

As a weapons engineer, you design test, analyze, update, and improve military weapons systems, such as missile defense systems, fighter jets, body armor, and conventional weapons. Your duties depend on the type of industry in which you work. Many weapons systems are now very complex, requiring numerous systems and parts. For example, a fighter jet involves input from aerospace engineers or guidance systems design experts and optical engineers. However, many of your responsibilities are the same across industries. You work with teams of engineers in consultation with military experts to identify weaknesses in weapons and prepare prototypes before beginning full production.

What is a weapons engineer?

Weapons engineers are specialized professionals who design, develop, test, and maintain military weapons and defense systems. Their work involves applying principles of mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering to create advanced weaponry such as missiles, firearms, and defense technologies. Weapons engineers often collaborate with government agencies and defense contractors to ensure that their designs meet safety, reliability, and regulatory standards. They may also be involved in research and development to innovate new technologies for national security. This career requires strong technical skills, attention to detail, and adherence to strict ethical and legal guidelines.

What type of weapons engineers work on weapons?

Weapons engineers who work on weapons typically specialize in designing, developing, testing, and maintaining military or defense-related weapon systems such as firearms, missiles, or explosive devices. They often have expertise in areas like ballistics, materials science, and systems integration, and may work with tools like CAD software and testing facilities.

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

To thrive as a Weapons Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical, electrical, or aerospace engineering, often supported by a relevant degree and security clearance. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and defense industry standards or certifications is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork skills help you excel in this role. These competencies ensure the safe, innovative, and compliant development of advanced weapon systems in a highly regulated field.

What is the difference between Weapons Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectWeapons EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, specialized training in weapon systems, security clearancesBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, possibly a Professional Engineer (PE) license
Work EnvironmentDefense labs, military facilities, research centersManufacturing plants, design firms, industrial settings
Industry UsageDefense, aerospace, military technologyAutomotive, aerospace, manufacturing, energy

Weapons Engineers focus on designing, developing, and testing weapon systems within defense and military sectors, often requiring security clearances. Mechanical Engineers work across various industries, designing and analyzing mechanical systems. While both roles involve engineering principles, Weapons Engineers specialize in weaponry and defense applications, whereas Mechanical Engineers have broader applications in general machinery and product design.

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Weapons Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Weapons Engineer job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Senior Principal Software Engineer

General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc

Bloomington, MN • Hybrid

$202K - $213K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Posted 18 days ago

General Dynamics Mission Systems rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 30 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

128th of 242 rated software companies

Job description

Education Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, or related Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics field, plus a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree, plus 8 years relevant experience.

Clearance Requirements:
Ability to obtain a Department of Defense Secret security clearance is required at time of hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.


ROLE AND POSITION OBJECTIVES:

As a Senior Principal Embedded Software Engineer for Airborne Systems, you’ll be a member of a cross functional team responsible for airborne computers that process and display mission data in the cockpit, to crypto products for identifying friendly aircraft, and weapon control systems that enable the launch and control of precision guided weapons, we work to ensure the world's most advanced aircraft maintain air superiority and information dominance.

We encourage you to apply if you have any of these preferred skills or experiences:

  • Expert experience with C/C++, particularly in hardware-centric embedded real-time systems.
  • Expert experience with Linux and other Operating Systems
  • Proven ability to perform requirements analysis, document software designs and write highly-reliabie and robust code to fulfill customer requirements.
  • Strong experience with UML/SysML.
  • Strong familiarity with tools such as Jira, Confluence, MagicDraw, DOORS 
  • Experience applying Agentic AI for continuous improvement and innovation

What sets you apart:

  • Creative thinker with demonstrated success leading the software development life cycle
  • Collaborative team player eager to provide technical leadership and position others for success
  • Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with notable record of securing buy-in on concepts and ideas
  • Experienced in the art of negotiation with ability to meet challenging customer requirements with win-win solutions
  • Commitment to ongoing professional development for yourself and others

Our Commitment to You:

  • An exciting career path with opportunities for continuous learning and development. 
  • Research oriented work, alongside award winning teams developing practical solutions for our nation’s security
  • Flexible schedules with every other Friday off work, if desired (9/80 schedule)
  • Competitive benefits, including 401k matching, flex time off, paid parental leave, healthcare benefits, health & wellness programs, employee resource and social groups, and more
  • See more at gdmissionsystems.com/careers/why-work-for-us/benefits

Workplace Options:
This position is fully on-site and Hybrid/Flex.
While on-site, you will be a part of the the Bloomington Office.


This estimate represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors (geographic location, etc.). Actual pay may vary. This job posting will remain open until the position is filled.
USD $202,197.00 - USD $213,254.00 /Yr.

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!


Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans

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