Energetics Engineer

Energetics Engineer

At Salas O’Brien we tell our clients that we are engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as
much to our team as it does to our projects. That is why we are committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving,
and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.

Building for the long term means that all of our team members can expect to work on meaningful projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has the opportunity to build a unique, high-impact career while receiving strong total rewards along the way.

We are currently supporting the modernization of Department of War and other federal industrial facilities that contribute to national defense, critical infrastructure, and the mission of supporting the warfighter.

Due to an upcoming increase in workload supporting Radford Army Ammunition Plant and similar Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives (AA&E) projects, we are seeking an Energetics Engineer to evaluate hazardous production systems and define practical modernization solutions using current safety, facility, equipment, and engineering technology.

Job Summary
The Energetics Engineer is responsible for the design, analysis, testing, and safe operation of systems involving energetic
materials, ammunition, Ammunition Components, and Explosives (AA&E), pyrotechnic, chemical processing, and hazardous
process equipment. This role provides technical leadership for energetics, process safety, and facility engineering projects,
ensuring compliance with applicable industry codes, standards, and regulatory requirements. The Energetics Engineer conducts hazardous area classification studies, performs hazard analyses and risk assessments, develops engineering
solutions that support safe and reliable operations, and applies all NFPA hazardous, explosive, and related standards.

Working with general supervision as part of a multidisciplinary teams, the Energetics Engineer supports the full project lifecycle, including conceptual design, detailed engineering, testing, troubleshooting, and operational support for facilities handling flammable gases, liquids, and energetic materials. The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise in
energetics and process systems with a deep understanding of safety engineering, regulatory compliance, and risk 
management in aerospace, defense, industrial gas, or energy-related environments.

This role supports modernization of legacy AA&E facilities where aging equipment, outdated controls, limited instrumentation, constrained utilities, and hazardous operations must be assessed and translated into practical engineering
strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities
• Evaluate existing energetics, propellant, pyrotechnic, chemical processing, utility, and hazardous industrial systems to improve safety, reliability, maintainability, and operational readiness.
Energetics Engineer Position Description | Salas O’Brien
• Lead the design, analysis, testing, and implementation of energetics systems involving propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics, pressurized gases, and cryogenic fluids.
• Perform hazardous area classification studies for facilities and systems handling flammable gases, liquids, vapors, and combustible materials.
• Apply and interpret all NFPA and other applicable industry standards to determine electrical area classifications and safety requirements. Example NFPA standards include, but are not limited to, NFPA 68, 69, 70, 77, 400, 495, and 497.
• Develop process safety analyses, hazard assessments and analyses, hazard and operability studies, explosives safety reviews, regulatory compliance assessments, and risk mitigation strategies for energetics operations, including blending, granulation, drying, filling, cutting, pressing and extrusion processes using automated, semi-automated and/or manual methods.

Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and customer safety regulations and standards.

• Support modernization planning for facilities involving energetics, propellants, pyrotechnics, chemical processing, , bulk material handling, and hazardous operations.
• Evaluate and document the safe handling, storage, and transport of unserviceable ammunition and explosives (AE) in strict compliance with DOT 49 CFR hazard classes, OSHA PSM (29 CFR 1910.119 DESR 6055.09, and DA PAM 385-64 standards.
• Implement Resource Recovery and Recycling (R³) protocols for hazardous military materials, including executing material
disposition mandates across DLA Demilitarization Codes B, D, and G.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with the EPA Military Munitions Rule (40 CFR Part 266) and RCRA hazardous waste shipping mandates during large-scale demilitarization operations.
• Support development of facility layouts, equipment selection, equipment specifications, review of technical data sheets, conducting vendor coordination and technical evaluations, and design documentation.
• Support design reviews, safety reviews, and operational readiness assessments for propulsion and energetics systems. 
Participate in site visits, field investigations, technical walkdowns, client workshops, technical reviews, and project
presentations
• Evaluate instrumentation, interlocks, permissives, alarms, remote operation, and monitoring strategies that improve operator safety and risk control in hazardous production environments.
• Collaborate and lead multidisciplinary teams to integrate energetic and hazardous-operation requirements into facility design.
• Evaluate storage, transfer, handling, and disposal methods for energetic materials and propellants.
• Lead or conduct root cause investigations and corrective action development for system failures, incidents, and near-miss events.
• Assist with proposal development, scope definition, basis of estimate development, budget planning, schedule planning, and technical approach narratives for federal opportunities.

Qualifications and Experience
• Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in energetics, propellants, pyrotechnics, chemical processing, defense
industrial base facilities, or related hazardous industrial environments.
• Experience with ammunition, explosives, energetics, propellants, pyrotechnics, chemical manufacturing, or similar
commodities is strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting Department of War, federal, defense contractor, aerospace, specialty chemical, advanced
manufacturing, or mission-critical industrial clients.
• Demonstrated experience producing engineering calculations, technical reports, design criteria, technical narratives,
specifications, equipment data sheets, and design documents.
• Experience supporting explosives safety, hazardous area classification, process safety analyses, hazard reviews, risk
assessments, HAZOP studies, hazardous area classification studies and applying NFPA 497 requirements, or similar safety
focused technical reviews.
• Experience working within and leading multidisciplinary engineering teams on complex industrial, federal, Engineering,
Procurement, and Construction (EPC); design-build, or modernization projects.
• Knowledge of applicable codes and standards, including NFPA, OSHA, and industry-specific safety requirements.
• Experience collaborating on Process Hazard Analyses (PHA), Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOP), or similar risk
assessments
• Preferred credentials may include Professional Engineer, Certified Process Safety Professional, or similar technical
certifications.
• Ability to obtain and maintain applicable site access, security clearance, or customer-required credentials.
Energetics Engineer Position Description | Salas O’Brien

Ideal Candidate Qualifications
• Direct experience working within a Government-Owned or Regulated A&AE production facility environment, understanding the
distinct roles, approval chains, and contractual boundaries between the government and the operating contractor
• U.S. citizenship, as required for site access to certain DoD-titled AA&E facilities
• Active or Recently held DoW Security Clearance Preferred
• Demonstrated success translating incomplete or legacy facility documentation into a forward-looking modernization scope
• Prior authorship or contribution to explosives safety submission (ESS) or site plan submitted to the DDESB.
Skills and Abilities
• Strong understanding of energetics and hazardous industrial facility engineering, including hazardous materials, propellants,
industrial utilities, equipment integration, and safety-critical operations.
• Ability to evaluate legacy facilities and identify practical modernization options that improve safety, reliability, maintainability,
and operator effectiveness.
• Familiarity with explosives safety environments, hazardous area classification, NFPA standards, related safety standards,
facility siting considerations, and compliance-driven design.
• Thorough knowledge of hazardous materials handling, storage, and transportation requirements.
• Ability to support and lead site investigations, field data collection, process walkdowns, operator interviews, document
reviews, and existing condition assessments.
• Ability to work with ambiguous or incomplete legacy documentation and develop clear, organized descriptions, assumptions,
constraints, and modernization recommendations.
• Familiarity with Department of War facilities, federal government projects, , secure facilities, and compliance-driven design
processes is preferred.
• Experience with energetics software preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Excel-based engineering calculations, Bluebeam Revu, AutoCAD, and other applicable
modeling or analytical platforms.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis skills.
• Proficiency with engineering calculations, process modeling, and technical documentation.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to engineers, project managers, clients, operators, estimators,
construction teams, and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong work ethics, sound judgment, attention to detail, and commitment to safe, practical, and mission-focused engineering
solutions.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and provide technical mentorship to junior engineers.
• Excellent communication skills, organizational capability, and ability to plan, balance, and prioritize multiple assignments.
• Ability to work safely in industrial, laboratory, aerospace, test stand, field environments, hybrid, office, and remote settings.
• Ability to conduct site visits and field investigations, access industrial, manufacturing, and construction environments,
occasionally lift up to 25 pounds, and wear required personal protective equipment during field assignments.

Location
Remote. May include office, laboratory, industrial facility, launch site, test stand, or construction environments requiring periodic field work and interaction with hazardous materials and cryogenic systems.

Type
Full-Time

Travel
Yes, 10% to 25%, depending on project assignments, site investigation needs, client workshops, commissioning support,
and field activities.

Compensation
The expected base salary range for this role is $115,000-$140,000 per year. Actual compensation will be determined based
on a number of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, role responsibilities, and location.

This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive U.S.-based benefits package, including:
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Wellness programs and employee assistance resources
• Professional development support

About Us
Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving
impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we
are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.

We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for mission-critical federal programs, data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, infrastructure, advanced robotics, and industrial facilities.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits
discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status,
genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by
federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as
required by law.