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Weapons Engineer Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

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Weapons Engineer information

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$63.1K

$80.3K

$95.3K

How much do weapons engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for weapons engineer in Utah is $80,252.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $72,300.00 and $88,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 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 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.

Is weapons engineering a good career?

Weapons 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 offers high-demand skills, security clearances, and competitive salaries, but may involve working in regulated or classified environments. Career prospects depend on industry needs and government contracts, with opportunities in defense, aerospace, and research sectors.

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 backgrounds in mechanical, electrical, or aerospace engineering and may work with advanced tools like CAD software and simulation programs in secure environments.

What job categories do people searching Weapons Engineer jobs in Utah look for?

The top searched job categories for Weapons Engineer jobs in Utah are:

What are popular job titles related to Weapons Engineer jobs in UT?

For Weapons Engineer jobs in UT, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Weapons Engineer job openings in Utah as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,252 per year, or $38.6 per hour.

Sentinel - Sr Principal Mechanical Engineer - 18283

Roy, UT

Northrop Grumman Corporation
Space Research Administration • 10K+ employees

$111K - $167K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Re-posted 7 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 372 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescriptionAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman's Defense Systems sector is seeking a Sr. Principal Mechanical Engineer to join the Sentinel program in Roy, UT. This role may offer a competitive relocation assistance package.

What You'll Get To Do:
  • Provide technical contributions to a growing Advanced Programs Missile Subsystem team for conceptual and preliminary design and technology maturation of new advanced concepts for future deterrence needs in the areas of cruise missiles and support systems/subsystems.

  • Develop design concepts for launcher capsule and provide technical oversight for avionics and airframe design, with an emphasis on minimizing impacts to Navy operations and re-use of existing launch systems.

  • Contribute to trade studies, architecture development, and system engineering, including producibility and affordability design influence, to produce credible conceptual and preliminary weapon system designs that meet potential customers' performance, cost, schedule, and risk thresholds while informing them of the surrounding design space for capability considerations, especially capability versus life cycle and cost versus technical availability date.

  • Demonstrate a commitment to ethics and integrity, and the capability to innovate while challenging traditional ways of doing business

  • Operate in an advanced design environment and collaborate across the Division and Suppliers as required to accomplish the team goals

  • Conceptualize and mature new business for growth of the Division

  • Transition innovative solutions, technologies, and advanced concepts for US strategic deterrence interests to programs of record for product development and fielding.

You'll Bring These Qualifications:
  • 8 Years with Bachelors in Science; 6 Years with Masters; 4 Years with PhD

  • Must have an active U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with the ability to obtain a U.S. Government DoD Top Secret security clearance.

  • Minimum 2 years of experience in design engineering, manufacturing engineering, or test engineering.

  • Experience with DoD weapon system support system conceptual and preliminary design, particularly related to design analysis cycles, cost versus capability trade studies, and multi-design discipline integration

  • Experience with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and/or weapon support system design

  • Great attention to detail, follow-through, and time management skills

  • Demonstrated verbal/written communication skills & proactive interpersonal initiative

  • Self-motivated and able to work productively and independently in a fast-paced environment

These Qualifications Would Be Nice to Have:
  • Active U.S. Government DoD Top Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope.

  • Operational experience with Navy Strategic Weapons Facilities.

  • Experience with Navy Programs and submarine operations

  • Experience with digital design, model based engineering (CAMEO) and modeling and simulation tools and processes

  • Experience with nuclear hardened strategic systems

  • Experience with Directed Trade Studies

  • Experience with creating 3D models in Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems (NX, Catia, Solidworks, etc.)

  • Experience using an industry-standard Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) System such as Teamcenter

  • Experience performing structural and thermal analysis

  • Experience in design, development, and analysis for Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3)

  • Experience designing to Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) Standards

Primary Level Salary Range: $111,700.00 - $167,500.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939