Lead Propulsion Technician

Singularity Defense is a stealth startup based in El Segundo, CA of former SpaceX, Anduril, and Lockheed applying the SpaceX model to mass produce air defense systems.  They’re backed by Gen HR McMaster and just closed out their seed funding round from several major SV firms. Their first product is a low-cost air defense system for immediate deployment around the world starting with Ukraine where the need is critical.

Position summary
The Lead Propulsion Technician is the hands-on lead for solid rocket motor (SRM) production at the Singularity manufacturing campus in Keenesburg, Colorado. You will help run and coordinate inert tooling, energetics mix, cast, cure, and motor assembly. You will train and mentor junior technicians, own shop-floor safety and procedure discipline, and work with engineering to turn development processes into repeatable production.

Title
Senior Propulsion Technician
Division
Propulsion & Energetics
Location
Keenesburg, CO (on site, 10-20% travel may be required)
Classification
Full time, non-exempt
Schedule
Day shift, with occasional extended, weekend, or test-day hours

Key responsibilities
Production operations

• Lead and perform composite propellant operations: ingredient weighing, mixing on dual planetary mixers, casting, vacuum processing, and cure.
• Prepare motor cases and tooling: cleaning, liner and insulation application, mandrel and core installation and removal.
• Carry out grain finishing, trimming, nozzle and igniter installation, and final motor assembly to drawings.
• Run and verify process equipment across the Mixing, Casting, Milling, and Final Assembly buildings; spot and escalate abnormal behavior early.
• Fill out and close travelers and batch records completely and accurately in real time.

Technical leadership

• Act as shift or operation lead: brief crews, assign tasks, and confirm readiness before hazardous operations begin.
• Train, qualify, and mentor junior technicians; sign off on task proficiency.
• Write, redline, and validate standard operating procedures, work instructions, and travelers with engineering.
• Support process development and scale-up from development batches to production rates.
• Give hands-on feedback to engineers on manufacturability, tooling, and fixture design.

Safety and compliance

• Model and enforce explosives safety rules, including personnel and quantity limits, PPE, grounding and bonding, and housekeeping.
• Take part in hazard analyses, pre-task reviews, and near-miss and incident investigations; drive corrective actions to closure.
• Maintain magazine inventory, transfer, and storage records to ATF and company requirements.
• Follow export control (ITAR) handling rules for technical data and hardware.

Quality and test

• Collect in-process samples and measurements; support lab testing, X-ray, and inspection.
• Raise nonconformances and take part in root-cause and disposition reviews.
• Support static fire and test stand operations: motor install, instrumentation setup, and post-test teardown.
• Maintain calibrated tools and equipment, and support preventive maintenance.

Required qualifications

• High school diploma; 4+ years of hands-on experience in energetics, SRM, propellant, explosives, or ordnance manufacturing; 8+ years in a technician role with increasing responsibility in aerospace, chemical or  advanced manufacturing, 2+ years leading crews or acting as operation lead on hazardous processes.
• Direct experience with composite propellant mixing and casting, or comparable energetic processing.
• Strong working knowledge of explosives safety practice, including DoD or DOE explosives safety standards.
• Able to read and work from engineering drawings, CAD, specifications, and procedures; experience writing or redlining work instructions.
• Strong documentation discipline and comfort with travelers, batch records, and nonconformance systems.
• Able to obtain and keep ATF employee possessor clearance (passing a federal background check).
• U.S. person status under ITAR.
• Able to obtain and keep a U.S. security clearance if required.
• 
  Preferred qualifications
  Associate or bachelor's degree in a technical field, or military EOD or ordnance training.
• Experience with tactical or large-scale SRM production systems.
• Experience operating dual planetary mixers at production scale.
• Experience with case insulation, liners, and bond systems.
• Hands-on static fire or test stand experience.
• Familiarity with AS9100 quality systems and lean or continuous improvement methods.
• Experience bringing up a new energetics facility or production line.
• Forklift, crane, or rigging certification.
• 
  Working conditions
• This job is on site at a rural explosives manufacturing campus northeast of Denver.
• Work happens in hazard-classified process buildings, magazines, and outdoor test areas.
• Regular work around energetic materials, solvents, and fine powders, in full PPE including FR clothing, respirators, and static-dissipative footwear.
• Lift up to 50 lb unassisted; stand, bend, and climb for long periods.
• Work in temperature-controlled process rooms and outdoors in Colorado weather.