Energetics Specialist

Parsons is seeking a highly experienced Energetics Specialist to join our Federal Solutions and Commissioning teams. The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in U.S. defense manufacturing, explosive and propellant processing validation, and production qualification for ammunition, energetics, and other high-hazard process facilities. 

Parsons routinely supports secure, high-consequence federal and industrial facilities. Candidates must be upstanding, forthright, and capable of being entrusted with controlled technical information and site-sensitive data. The role demands the ability to perform effectively under concurrent design, construction, start-up, and government qualification pressures across complex manufacturing environments. 

An attractive Parsons compensation and benefits package is offered. This position provides the opportunity to apply specialized energetics and process-validation expertise on major defense manufacturing programs while mentoring emerging commissioning professionals and strengthening Parsons’ capabilities in hazardous-process commissioning. 

Position requires substantial on-site presence at federal installations and client manufacturing facilities during design reviews, construction, start-up, and production qualification phases, plus travel to vendor facilities for Factory Acceptance Testing as required. 

This position is based near Little Rock, Arkansas and is part of a 4–5 year contract. During the first year, remote work is permitted. After the first year, the selected candidate will be required to either reside within commuting distance of Little Rock, AR or be willing to relocate to the area.

What You'll Be Doing: 

Energetics Specialists safeguard process integrity and operational readiness of some of the most safety-critical production systems in the defense industrial base. You will guide multi-party project teams—including owners, design and technology partners, EPC/GC contractors, equipment vendors, and government stakeholders—to rigorous, defensible validation outcomes. Technical soundness, precise documentation, temperate conflict resolution, and the willingness to raise issues early to protect long-term operability are essential traits. 

• Lead technical validation of energetic material processing systems, production equipment, and associated safety-critical systems in defense manufacturing environments. 

• Develop, review, and refine commissioning, start-up, operational readiness, and production qualification requirements, plans, procedures, and stage-gate criteria tailored to energetic and hazardous process facilities. 

• Direct, witness, and validate Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), Pre-Functional Checks, Functional Performance Tests, Integrated Systems Testing, and vendor start-up activities for process production equipment and critical utilities. 

• Support production qualification and government acceptance readiness activities, including requirement traceability, sampling plans, acceptance criteria, configuration control verification, and independent readiness assessments. 

• Review or witness First Article Testing, pilot and initial production runs, Lot Acceptance Testing, and related qualification activities; prepare independent technical readiness assessments and supporting documentation packages.

• Validate safety interlocks, emergency shutdown logic, hazardous exhaust systems, spark-proof HVAC, pressure cascade controls, redundancy and failover features, and other safety-critical elements specific to explosives and energetic material processing. 

• Maintain issue, nonconformance, corrective-action, and retest registers for energetics systems; drive disciplined, team-oriented issue resolution and closure. 

• Provide independent technical review of design submittals, technical data packages, specifications, test plans, and operations & maintenance documentation for energetic process systems and associated utilities. 

• Support incorporation of commissioning, qualification, and acceptance requirements into procurement documents, scopes of work, responsibility matrices, and contract documents. 

• Coordinate technical interfaces related to DoD explosives safety standards and process validation requirements as they apply to operational readiness. 

• Prepare clear technical reports, readiness recommendations, and briefings for senior management, clients, and government stakeholders. 

• Team with and/or lead other commissioning professionals; mentor junior personnel and contribute to the development of Parsons’ energetics and hazardous-process commissioning capabilities. 

• Additional office locations or hybrid arrangements may be considered upon request consistent with project demands. 

What Required Skills You'll Bring: 

• 10+ years of experience in defense manufacturing, explosive processing validation, or comparable U.S. DoD ammunition, energetics, propellant, missile, or propulsion manufacturing programs with direct process qualification responsibility.

• Demonstrated experience with process qualification, First Article Testing, Lot Acceptance Testing, material and batch traceability, configuration control, and nonconformance/corrective-action processes in energetic or highly hazardous process environments. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Explosives Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline (ABET-accredited preferred). Equivalent combination of education and extensive relevant experience will be considered.

• Working knowledge of DoD explosives safety standards, process safety management for energetic materials, and applicable federal facility criteria.

• Hands-on experience with commissioning, start-up, FAT/SAT, functional and integrated systems testing, and operational readiness validation of hazardous process systems and critical process utilities. 

• Proven ability to develop and critically review test plans, procedures, sampling plans, acceptance criteria, stage-gate criteria, and independent readiness assessment packages.

• Strong technical writing and presentation skills; ability to produce clear, defensible reports and brief senior and government audiences. 

• Demonstrated collaborative approach with multi-party teams including technology providers, EPC/GC contractors, equipment vendors, owners, and government representatives. 

• Ability and willingness to deploy to client manufacturing sites and federal installations for extended periods during design, construction, start-up, and qualification phases.

• Must be able to pass a general background check.

• Must be able to speak fluent English (ability to speak Korean is a plus)

What Desired Skills You'll Bring: 

• Professional Engineer (PE) registration. 

• Prior experience at U.S. Army arsenals, ammunition plants, or comparable energetic manufacturing facilities.

• Experience integrating or validating industrial control systems / SCADA process controls and safety interlocks in hazardous or explosive environments. 

• Familiarity with cybersecurity requirements applicable to process control systems in defense manufacturing settings.

• ASQ, Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent quality and process-improvement certifications. 

• Prior hands-on or journeyman experience in chemical process operations, explosives handling, or related trades highly desirable.