Flight Termination & Range Safety Engineer

Position: Flight Termination & Range Safety Engineer
Position Type: Full-time Onsite
Position Location: Huntsville, AL
Clearance Required: Active Secret

Waypoint’s client is seeking a Flight Termination & Range Safety Engineer to support the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Targets and Countermeasures Engineering Directorate. This role provides technical expertise across the targets portfolio with a focus on flight termination systems (FTS), range safety requirements development and verification, and hardware/software integration. The successful candidate will serve as a subject matter expert in range safety and ensure engineering rigor is applied across system development, testing, and mission execution.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Range Safety SME for the Targets Program Office during flight tests, Range Safety Working Groups, and functionality testing.
• Oversee requirements development, allocation, and verification for FTS products, including autonomous flight termination systems and related range safety functions.
• Provide oversight of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) and Contractor Furnished Equipment (CFE) hardware/software development, acceptance, qualification, integration, and checkout.
• Review and validate missile flight safety analyses and associated analysis products.
• Support and participate in Failure Review Boards (FRBs) and component failure investigations.
• Deliver technical reports and summaries documenting analysis results, status, and recommendations to leadership.
• Represent customer interests in working groups, forums, and technical interchange meetings.
• Apply knowledge of range tracking systems (inertial measurement, GPS, C-band tracking) to support test activities.
• Provide onsite support for mission build-up and flight events, including travel as needed (25–30%).

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline.
• 20+ years of experience in missile defense-related or other large, complex DoD programs/projects.
• Active DoD Secret clearance.
• Working knowledge of range safety standards such as RCC-319 Flight Termination Commonality Standard and RCC-324 Global Positioning & Inertial Measurements Range Safety Tracking Systems Commonality Standard.
• Proficiency with range tracking systems (inertial measurement, GPS, C-band).
• Ability to work independently or lead teams to resolve engineering and technical problems.
• Strong communication skills (oral, written, briefing) with ability to present to senior leadership.
• Flexibility to manage multiple, time-sensitive actions in dynamic environments.
• Willingness to travel 25–30% in support of test events and mission activities.

Desired:

• Familiarity with autonomous flight termination systems.
• Experience with flight test range safety activities.
• Background in batteries, RF systems, ordnance devices, and antennas.
• 10+ years of additional defense or aerospace experience.

*Waypoint Human Capital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.