Process Engineer

About UDC

Ultra Defense Corp (UDC) is a privately held defense company headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with domestic manufacturing facilities and operations supporting American national security interests worldwide.

For more than 15 years, UDC has built a stable and mature organization and is now entering a significant period of expansion. With a growing portfolio aligned with U.S. defense priorities, advanced technology, and domestic manufacturing, UDC offers the opportunity to work in an entrepreneurial environment backed by organizational stability and competitive benefits.

The Opportunity

The Process Engineer develops, implements, and improves manufacturing processes for energetic and non-energetic munitions components and devices using materials such as smokeless propellant and primers. The role supports production-equipment selection and optimization, process safety, technical problem solving, product/process development, and manufacturing quality. Working across Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Program Management, the position helps establish safe, repeatable, compliant, and effective manufacturing processes.

What You’ll Do

• Develop, implement, and optimize manufacturing processes for energetic and non-energetic components and devices using materials including smokeless propellant and primers.
• Develop and maintain work instructions, standard operating procedures, and supporting process documentation for energetic and non-energetic operations.
• Work with subject-matter experts to identify and source equipment used to process and produce energetic and non-energetic products.
• Set up, optimize, and troubleshoot production equipment and manufacturing lines, including draw presses, priming machines, loading machines, and other specialty equipment.
• Develop process hazard analyses and safety procedures in accordance with BATFE and OSHA requirements and support compliance with DoD 4145 energetic safety and DoD 5100 security standards.
• Conduct research and experimentation to improve component processing, performance, manufacturability, and production outcomes.
• Develop/design munitions components and systems, lead non-destructive and destructive testing programs, and participate in exploratory efforts on new munitions, devices, and systems.
• Support Program Management and Quality Assurance with technical reporting, Physical Configuration Audits, First Article Acceptance Tests, and Lot Acceptance Tests.

What You Bring

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.

• 3+ years of experience in process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a similar technical role.

• Experience developing or improving manufacturing processes in a production environment.

• Strong technical troubleshooting and problem-solving capabilities.

• Experience working with specialized manufacturing or production equipment.

• Ability to develop technical documentation, work instructions, and process controls.

• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively across Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Program Management.

Highly Desired Experience

• Munitions, ammunition, energetic materials, or defense manufacturing.

• Experience with smokeless propellant, primers, or related energetic materials.

• Familiarity with draw presses, priming machines, loading machines, or similar specialty equipment.

• Knowledge of BATFE and OSHA requirements.

• Working knowledge of DoD 4145 energetic safety and DoD 5100 security standards.

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will be a hands-on technical problem solver who can independently evaluate manufacturing challenges while operating within established safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

We are particularly interested in candidates who demonstrate:

Process Engineering | Manufacturing Optimization | Technical Problem Solving | Safety & Risk Management | Quality Focus | Collaboration | Decision Making | Continuous Improvement

Location & Travel

This position is based in Kingsville, Missouri and is expected to work primarily in an office, production, and laboratory environment. Occasional travel may be required based on business needs.

Additional Requirements

• Must be able to successfully complete a background check and drug screening.

• Must be able to pass a BATFE background investigation and obtain an Employee Possessor certificate.

• Must be able to comply with applicable CUI, ITAR/EAR, CMMC, cybersecurity, safety, and confidentiality requirements.

• Ability to safely work around energetic materials, specialized manufacturing equipment, and required PPE.

• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.

Why UDC?

This is an opportunity to join UDC during a significant period of growth and directly contribute to expanding U.S.-based munitions manufacturing capabilities. You will work alongside experienced technical and operational teams while helping develop and improve processes that directly affect product quality, safety, throughput, and program execution.

What UDC Offers

• Competitive Base Salary

• Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, Life & AD&D

• 401(k) & Company Match

• Company Paid Holidays

• Generous Vacation Policy

• Professional Development and Advancement Opportunities

Equal Employment Opportunity

Ultra Defense Corporation is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.