Principal Explosive Safety Specialist Huntington Beach, California, United States

Huntington Beach, California, United States

About Mach Industries

Founded in 2023, Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology company focused on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. At the core of our mission is the commitment to delivering scalable, decentralized defense systems that enhance the strategic capabilities of the United States and its allies. With a workforce of approximately 350 employees, we operate with startup agility and ambition.

Our vision is to redefine the future of warfare through cutting‑edge manufacturing, innovation at speed, and unwavering focus on national security. We are dedicated to solving the next generation of warfare with lethal systems that deter kinetic conflict and protect global security.

The Role

The Principal Explosive Safety Specialist serves as a senior technical authority for explosive safety, weapon and fuze safety, energetic materials operations, and explosives logistics. The role develops and advances the organization's explosive safety program while providing technical leadership for the handling, storage, transportation, integration, testing, demilitarization, and disposal of ammunition, explosives, warheads, fuzing systems, munitions, and other energetic materials. The position leads explosive risk management, interprets government requirements, advises engineering and operational leadership, and leads logistics planning and safety review strategy for energetic systems.

Primary emphasis: Organizational explosive safety technical authority, weapon and fuze safety, explosive risk management, government safety approvals, and energetics logistics strategy

Typical scope: Establishes organizational approaches to explosive safety and energetics operations; provides technical leadership for weapon and fuze safety; leads high‑complexity or high‑consequence activities; develops government safety review strategies; and provides technical direction across multiple programs and functions.

Key Responsibilities

Explosive Safety Program Leadership

Develop, implement, and continuously improve the organization's explosive safety program.

Establish explosive safety standards, processes, operating requirements, and technical guidance for activities involving ammunition, explosives, energetic materials, warheads, fuzes, and munitions.

Develop scalable explosive safety processes supporting research, development, manufacturing, integration, testing, and field operations.

Establish governance for explosive operations, including review thresholds, technical approval processes, documentation requirements, and escalation criteria.

Serve as a senior technical advisor to engineering, operations, test, logistics, program, and leadership teams on explosive safety matters.

Serve as a senior technical advisor for weapon, fuze, initiation system, and energetic system safety throughout design, development, integration, qualification, test, and fielding activities.

Provide explosive and weapon safety expertise for systems incorporating Electronic Safe and Arm Devices (ESADs), fuzing systems, initiation systems, energetic components, and other safety‑critical ordnance technologies.

Advise engineering teams on applicable weapon and fuze safety requirements and the incorporation of safety principles into system architectures and designs.

Support development and review of safety requirements, safety features, hazard analyses, verification approaches, test strategies, and technical data supporting weapon and fuze safety determinations.

Develop and lead technical strategies supporting applicable fuze, weapon, and explosive safety reviews.

Lead or support preparation of technical data packages, briefings, analyses, and supporting documentation for applicable government safety review authorities.

Coordinate responses to board questions, findings, action items, and requests for additional technical information.

Advise program and engineering leadership regarding certification risk, safety approval dependencies, and implications to development and test schedules.

Government Weapon, Fuze & Explosives Safety Reviews

Interpret and apply applicable DoW, Service, component, range, and customer explosive safety requirements.

Develop approval and review strategies appropriate to the government organization and authority having jurisdiction over a program or activity.

Lead or provide senior technical support for programs undergoing review by applicable explosive, weapon, or fuze safety authorities.

Maintain working knowledge of review processes and expectations associated with relevant DoW and Service/component organizations.

Interface with government customers, safety authorities, range organizations, and technical review boards as required.

Demonstrated experience may include the Department of the Navy Weapon System Explosives Safety Review Board (WSESRB), Department of the Air Force Nonnuclear Munitions Safety Board (NNMSB), Department of the Army Army Weapon System Safety Review Board (AWSSRB), Department of the Army Army Fuze Safety Review Board (AFSRB), or equivalent Joint/Service/component review authorities.

Maintain working knowledge of Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board (DDESB) requirements and processes where applicable to explosives site planning, quantity‑distance, storage, facilities, ranges, and other explosives safety compliance activities.

Lead explosive hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk mitigation activities for complex or novel energetic operations.

Evaluate proposed explosive operations, facilities, processes, system designs, and test activities and recommend appropriate engineering, administrative, and operational controls.

Establish methodologies for evaluating and documenting explosive risk.

Provide technical input into operational and programmatic risk acceptance decisions involving explosives and energetic materials.

Support investigations, corrective actions, and lessons learned associated with explosive safety incidents, anomalies, or near misses.

Develop logistics strategies for acquisition, receipt, transportation, storage, accountability, movement, issue, recovery, and disposition of energetic materials and munitions.

Lead explosives logistics planning for test campaigns, range activities, developmental programs, and field operations.

Establish scalable inventory management and accountability practices for ammunition, explosives, and energetic materials.

Develop strategies for managing energetic materials across multiple facilities, ranges, test locations, and program activities.

Identify explosive logistics constraints early in program planning and develop mitigation strategies.

Explosive Handling Procedures & Technical Standards

Lead development, technical review, and approval of explosive handling, storage, integration, installation, test, transportation, and disposition procedures.

Develop technical procedures for novel energetic systems and operations where established processes do not exist.

Review engineering and operational documentation affecting explosive safety.

Establish standardized practices for warhead, fuze, munition, and energetic component installation, handling, movement, storage, and testing.

Establish minimum explosive safety requirements for operations involving prototype or developmental energetic systems.

Range, Storage & Operational Support

Provide senior‑level explosive safety oversight for live‑fire ranges and energetic testing.

Establish and oversee magazine and explosive storage management practices.

Provide technical guidance for ammunition handling, energetic inventory control, compatibility, and explosive storage.

Advise teams conducting warhead, munition, fuze, and energetic component installation and integration.

Provide technical oversight for complex, novel, or elevated‑risk explosive operations.

Lead or coordinate explosive hazard classification activities for ammunition, energetic components, warheads, fuzing systems, and munitions.

Advise engineering and logistics teams regarding technical data required to support hazard classification.

Develop strategies for compliant transportation and storage based on applicable hazard classifications.

Establish processes for demilitarization, disposition, and disposal of ammunition, explosives, energetic materials, and munition components.

Coordinate with qualified government, commercial, range, and disposal organizations as required.

Technical Leadership

Serve as a technical mentor to explosive safety specialists and personnel conducting energetic operations.

Develop training and awareness programs for personnel who handle or work around ammunition and explosives.

Influence weapon, system, test, and facility designs to incorporate explosive safety considerations early in development.

Represent explosive safety, weapon and fuze safety, and energetics operations in cross‑functional technical and program reviews.

Provide technical guidance to leadership regarding explosive safety capability development, staffing, facilities, infrastructure, and organizational readiness.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), explosive safety, ammunition and explosives operations, military ordnance, energetics, weapon systems, or a closely related discipline.
• Advanced knowledge of explosive safety principles, ammunition and explosives operations, energetic material storage, ordnance handling, and explosive risk management.
• Demonstrated experience developing or administering explosive safety programs, policies, procedures, or technical standards.
• Experience assessing and managing risk associated with complex or novel explosive operations.
• Experience providing technical support to weapon, munition, warhead, fuze, or energetic system development and test activities.
• Working knowledge of applicable U.S. government explosive safety, weapon safety, and ammunition requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical direction across engineering, operations, logistics, test, safety, and program organizations.
• Strong technical writing, communication, technical judgment, and decision‑making skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate of military EOD school or equivalent advanced explosives/ordnance training.
• Significant military, government, or civilian experience in EOD, ammunition management, explosive safety, weapon safety, weapons development, or energetic systems.
• Demonstrated experience with Electronic Safe and Arm Devices (ESADs), fuzing systems, initiation systems, and safety‑critical energetic architectures.
• Experience developing, reviewing, or supporting ESAD qualification, safety evaluation, or certification activities.
• Experience preparing for, presenting to, supporting, or leading technical efforts associated with WSESRB, NNMSB, AWSSRB, AFSRB, or equivalent Joint/Service/component weapon or fuze safety review organizations.
• Experience preparing and presenting technical data packages, safety analyses, hazard assessments, test evidence, and responses to government safety board findings or action items.
• Experience with DDESB requirements and processes applicable to explosives site planning, quantity‑distance, storage, facilities, or other explosives safety submissions.
• Experience with explosive site planning, quantity‑distance considerations, hazard classification, explosives transportation, and demilitarization/disposal programs.
• Experience establishing explosive safety programs in R&D, manufacturing, developmental test, or rapidly scaling organizations.
• Experience working directly with U.S. government explosive safety organizations, weapon safety authorities, customers, or approval authorities.
• Active or previously held U.S. security clearance

Additional Requirements

• Available to work extended hours and weekends as needed

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

$180,000 - $210,000 USD

At Mach, we believe that compensation is more than just a paycheck. It's a comprehensive package designed to reward the time, skills, and expertise you bring to our team. We are committed to offering competitive compensation that is equitable, transparent, and aligned with market trends.

Key Elements of Our Compensation Philosophy:

• Competitive Salaries : We continuously research market rates to ensure our salaries are competitive with those in our industry and geographic location.
• Performance‑Based Incentives : Our bonus structure is tied to both individual and company performance, creating a win‑win scenario that motivates our team members to excel.
• Equity Participation : We offer stock options or equity to employees, ensuring that you share in the success and growth of the company.
• Benefit Packages : Our benefits include healthcare, dental and vision plans, retirement savings, and paid time off, because we understand that your well‑being extends beyond the office.
• Professional Development : We allocate funds for continuing education, training, and career growth.
• Transparency : We are committed to openness about our compensation tiers and how decisions are made, ensuring trust and mutual respect.

By joining Mach, you’re not just accepting a job—you’re becoming a key part of a team that values your contributions and invests in your growth. Together, we aim to create a rewarding environment that sets the stage for long‑term success.

This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Please note that any offer for employment may be conditioned on authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license.

Mach participates in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and training, critical skills, and business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in most offers and are considered part of Mach’s total compensation package. Mach offers benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Mach is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.