Warhead & Energetics Lead

Wild West Systems Inc.•Leander, TX

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Mandate Your job is simple and serious: design the warhead that makes the system effective. Wild West Systems is building missile systems where performance is determined by the interaction between propulsion, aerodynamics, and terminal effects. You own the terminal effects. You will design, test, and iterate the warhead and energetic systems that deliver mission impact. You will move from physics → explosive design → testing → iteration. If the warhead doesn't perform, it's your problem. If testing reveals unknowns, you design the experiment. If safety or compliance is unclear, you own the solution. This is not a modeling-only role. This is not a compliance-only role. This is the engineer responsible for turning explosives into reliable mission effects. What You Own (End-to-End) The complete warhead and energetic system. From concept to validated performance. You own: Warhead architecture Explosive selection Explosive train design Fragmentation and blast behavior Testing and characterization Manufacturing methods Safety and regulatory compliance You are responsible for ensuring the warhead works, can be built safely, and performs consistently. This includes building the capability to do that work. You will establish the company's energetic development capability from the ground up. What You Actually Do Design and develop warheads for missile systems, including directional fragmentation architectures. Translate mission effects into warhead design parameters. Select appropriate explosive materials and energetic systems based on performance, safety, and manufacturability. Design and validate the explosive train, including detonators, boosters, and initiation systems. Develop explosive testing programs including: Fragmentation characterization Blast effects testing Instrumentation and measurement Data analysis and interpretation Plan and execute explosive tests at an external test range. Analyze results and iterate designs quickly. Develop and document safe manufacturing processes for explosive components. Establish procedures for explosive handling, storage, and assembly. Train technicians to safely manufacture energetic systems once processes are validated. Own explosive safety and regulatory compliance including ATF and military explosive handling requirements. Maintain all required documentation, safety plans, and regulatory records. Collaborate with propulsion, mechanical, electrical, and systems engineers to integrate the warhead into the vehicle. Ensure the energetic subsystem integrates cleanly with the overall system architecture. Where appropriate, develop simplified models or simulations to support design decisions, but rely on testing and iteration to validate performance. Who You Are You have designed or significantly contributed to real explosive or warhead systems. You understand how explosive performance translates into real-world effects. You are comfortable moving between theory, engineering judgment, and physical testing. You know how to design safe explosive tests and extract useful data from them. You understand the military's safety expectations and explosive handling requirements. You can operate independently and build capability where none currently exists. You are comfortable being the sole energetics expert inside a fast-moving engineering organization. You are pragmatic, disciplined, and focused on results. You take ownership like an operator, not a specialist. Onsite, full-time, Leander, TX. Core Technical Capabilities Warhead design and effects engineering Explosive material selection Explosive train architecture Fragmentation and blast characterization Explosive testing design and execution Instrumentation and data analysis Manufacturing process development for energetic systems Explosive safety and compliance Understanding of military explosive safety standards and requirements Experience working with explosive ranges or test facilities Modeling and simulation experience (hydrocodes, fragmentation models, etc.) is a strong plus but not required. Experience Requirements Minimum 5+ years of experience working with explosive systems, energetics, or warhead development. Backgrounds may include: Missile systems Ordnance engineering Energetics development Defense weapons programs Government or defense contractor programs Candidates must be: U.S. Citizens ITAR compliant Able to work with controlled defense technologies Experience with explosive safety compliance and regulatory documentation is required. What Success Looks Like The company develops a reliable, repeatable warhead capability. Explosive testing programs generate clear performance data. Warhead designs improve rapidly with each iteration. Manufacturing processes for energetic components are documented and safe. The company has a disciplined explosive development capability rather than ad-hoc testing. The warhead performs as intended in real systems. Why This Role Exists Because propulsion and aerodynamics get the vehicle to the target. The warhead determines whether the mission succeeds. Your job is to make that success reliable.

Requirements

You have designed or significantly contributed to real explosive or warhead systems.
You understand how explosive performance translates into real-world effects.
You are comfortable moving between theory, engineering judgment, and physical testing.
You know how to design safe explosive tests and extract useful data from them.
You understand the military's safety expectations and explosive handling requirements.
You can operate independently and build capability where none currently exists.
You are comfortable being the sole energetics expert inside a fast-moving engineering organization.
You are pragmatic, disciplined, and focused on results.
You take ownership like an operator, not a specialist.
Warhead design and effects engineering
Explosive material selection
Explosive train architecture
Fragmentation and blast characterization
Explosive testing design and execution
Instrumentation and data analysis
Manufacturing process development for energetic systems
Explosive safety and compliance
Understanding of military explosive safety standards and requirements
Experience working with explosive ranges or test facilities
Minimum 5+ years of experience working with explosive systems, energetics, or warhead development.
U.S. Citizens
ITAR compliant
Able to work with controlled defense technologies
Experience with explosive safety compliance and regulatory documentation is required.

Nice To Haves

Modeling and simulation experience (hydrocodes, fragmentation models, etc.) is a strong plus but not required.

Responsibilities

Design and develop warheads for missile systems, including directional fragmentation architectures.
Translate mission effects into warhead design parameters.
Select appropriate explosive materials and energetic systems based on performance, safety, and manufacturability.
Design and validate the explosive train, including detonators, boosters, and initiation systems.
Develop explosive testing programs including fragmentation characterization, blast effects testing, instrumentation and measurement, and data analysis and interpretation
Plan and execute explosive tests at an external test range.
Analyze results and iterate designs quickly.
Develop and document safe manufacturing processes for explosive components.
Establish procedures for explosive handling, storage, and assembly.
Train technicians to safely manufacture energetic systems once processes are validated.
Own explosive safety and regulatory compliance including ATF and military explosive handling requirements.
Maintain all required documentation, safety plans, and regulatory records.
Collaborate with propulsion, mechanical, electrical, and systems engineers to integrate the warhead into the vehicle.
Ensure the energetic subsystem integrates cleanly with the overall system architecture.
Where appropriate, develop simplified models or simulations to support design decisions, but rely on testing and iteration to validate performance.