Senior Missile Warhead Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

nou Systems, Inc. (nSI) is now officially a 100% ESOP company ! We value teamwork and collaboration, and this transition allows us to take that commitment to a new level . nSI empowers our customers by supplying products, services, and expertise with powerful, data driven insights that transform defense systems and improve capabilities.

nou Systems, Inc. (nSI) is here to build systems that solve our nation's most challenging defense problems in an enjoyable, stimulating environment. We're looking for talented builders with high levels of curiosity and extremely strong grounding in fundamentals and engineering first principles. If you're hungry for harder problems, used to working quickly, and excited to take innovative systems from napkin to the field, this is your happy place.

We are pleased to announce the opening for a Senior Missile Warhead Engineer who will join our elite R&D team in Huntsville, Alabama building transformative low cost interceptors for emerging DoD applications. nSI is known for fielding revolutionary missile defense systems, pioneering step changes in RF seeker technology, introducing principled AI systems, and rapidly pioneering novel defense platforms, from space to the seabed. We're small and agile, and ready to disrupt the status quo.

Responsibilities:

Our small team has developed a game-changing interferometric RF seeker technology which has significant implications for making low-complexity, low-cost, high-performance interceptors for combating raids of asymmetric threats. Our seeker approach is patented, tested, funded by multiple customers, and in high demand for emerging threats.

You will be an integral part of a team developing a best-in-class interceptor around this seeker as our guidance and control lead. Starting from your knowledge of both first principles and practical deployment challenges, you'll architect, rapidly prototype, and implement the warhead systems for highly maneuverable, small diameter (120 mm and lower) surface-to-air interceptor designs. You will design optimal warhead configurations for specific target sets, develop innovative lethality solutions, integrate fuzing systems, and create low-cost warhead designs that push the boundaries of what's achievable at low-cost in contested environments against stressing threats. Your work will span the full warhead system - from lethality mechanism design through safety/arming devices to fuze integration and warhead/target interaction modeling. Terminal ballistics, blast/fragmentation effects, insensitive munitions compliance, and safety architecture should be your bread and butter.

You'll interface directly with guidance, structures, and manufacturing experts to ensure your warhead solutions deliver maximum effectiveness within tight weight, volume, and endgame performance constraints. This includes developing warhead designs optimized for specific engagement scenarios, ensuring compliance with insensitive munitions requirements, and creating solutions that integrate seamlessly with our low-cost manufacturing approach while maintaining all safety standards.

As part of our small, elite team, you'll take warhead concepts from whiteboard sketches to flight tests in months, not years.

Basic Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree minimum in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or similar technical field
• Seven years of full-time professional experience in warhead design and development roles
• Must possess or have the ability to obtain an active Secret Security Clearance

Technical Competencies - You must demonstrate expertise in:

• Warhead design including blast, fragmentation, and specialized defeat mechanisms
• Terminal ballistics and warhead/target interaction modeling
• Fuzing system integration and safety/arming device design
• Insensitive munitions (IM) requirements and testing protocols
• Hydrocode modeling for warhead effects prediction
• Explosive safety standards and handling procedures
• Impact of warhead choices on platform cost, other subsystems, and integration/manufacturing complexity

Core Technical Skills:

• Deep understanding of detonation physics, shock wave propagation, and fragmentation mechanics
• Sufficient technical expertise to understand the impact of target sets, engagement conditions, fuzing requirements, safety constraints, and platform integration on warhead design
• Proficiency in rapid prototyping of warhead systems from concept through arena and flight test
• Demonstrated ability to develop warhead solutions from first principles for various defeat mechanisms
• Strong background in explosive effects and vulnerability/lethality assessment
• Experience with warhead safety analysis and weapon system safety reviews

Software & Tools:

• Hydrocode software (CTH, AUTODYN, LS-DYNA, or similar)
• CAD tools for warhead design and integration
• PRODAS or similar tools for fragment trajectory analysis
• Monte Carlo simulation tools for effectiveness analysis
• Familiarity with blast prediction codes (ConWep, BlastX, or similar)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with small diameter missile warheads or submunitions
• Direct experience taking a warhead design through safety certification and flight qualification
• Knowledge of counter-UAS or counter-missile specific lethality requirements
• Familiarity with joint munitions effectiveness manuals (JMEMs) and other weaponeering tools

Who is nou (pronounced 'new') Systems?

Since its founding in 2012, nou Systems has built a reputation for excellence in innovative engineering, prototype development, and technical and professional services in multiple markets, including missile defense, cybersecurity, test range modernization, and space control. Our diverse and highly skilled team delivers state-of-the-art products from concepts and prototypes to fully developed and integrated solutions.

We offer significant advancement and personal career development opportunities within our dynamic high-tech company. Our culture is firmly established in treating our employees like family. Benefits of working at nSI

nou Systems, Inc. offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and diverse benefits that reflect our company culture of service, excellence, and a supportive work environment.

Other specific benefits include:

• Competitive Wages*
• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Medical plan with Health Savings Account eligibility
• Generous company-funded Basic Life Insurance
• Company-funded Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Optional Accident and Critical Illness Insurance
• Personal Time Off, Annual Leave, and Paid Federal Holidays
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Tuition Reimbursement for ongoing training, continuing education, or advanced degree programs
• Personal Development, Learning Opportunities, & Lunch-n-Learns
• Opportunities for Advancement
• Skills Development & Certifications
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach

*Final compensation for this position is determined by a variety of factors, such as a candidate's relevant work experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location.

nSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Employment opportunities at nSI are based upon a candidate's qualifications and capabilities to perform the essential functions of a particular job and are free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. For our complete EEO/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit systems.com/workingatnou. U.S. citizenship is required for most positions.