Propellant Production Lead

About the Role

The Destinus engineering team is seeking a Propellant Production Lead to lead and organise production floor activities at our Lucerne facility, focused on the serial manufacturing of solid rocket motor propellant. This is a hands-on leadership role in a tightly regulated, safety-critical chemical production environment, overseeing a team of two to three propellant production technicians.

The ideal candidate combines practical chemistry or process engineering experience with the leadership mindset and discipline to run a small production team. They take ownership of their work, lead by example, and understand that quality in this environment is built on process control, rigorous safety adherence, and meticulous documentation.

What You’ll Do

• Lead a team of three production technicians; plan and schedule daily production floor activities to meet output targets safely and on time

• Prepare and maintain the shopfloor management board; track production progress, material stock levels, and consumable replenishment

• Oversee and participate hands-on in propellant mixing, casting, and curing operations for solid rocket motor grains, following validated processes and batch records

• Manage material flow through the production floor including preparation, weighing, and handling of energetic and chemical raw materials in accordance with applicable permits and safety protocols

• Write, maintain, and enforce SOPs for all propellant manufacturing operations, ensuring safety, repeatability, and traceability at every step

• Own batch documentation and production records; ensure full traceability of materials, process parameters, and personnel for every production run

• Support troubleshooting and corrective actions in collaboration with engineering, QA, and safety teams; escalate non-conformances promptly

• Contribute to continuous improvement of manufacturing processes, yield, and safety while maintaining compliance with Swiss regulatory requirements (SUVA, StFV, VKF, and applicable cantonal authorities)

Requirements

What You’ll Need

• Degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a closely related field

• Several years of hands-on experience in the production of ammunition, propellants, pyrotechnics, or energetic materials

• Experience leading a small production team; comfortable setting the daily rhythm, holding the team to process standards, and developing technician competence

• Solid understanding of chemical production safety, hazardous materials handling, and relevant Swiss regulatory frameworks (SUVA, StFV, VKF); direct experience with explosives or pyrotechnics permits is a strong advantage

• Ability to write, own, and enforce SOPs and batch records in a documentation-intensive, safety-critical environment

• Experience with ERP or production management systems; familiarity with batch traceability requirements

• Meticulous, process-driven, and calm under pressure – able to balance production throughput with non-negotiable safety standards

• Fluent in German and English

Who You Are

You are a hands-on leader who takes ownership and leads by example. You bring structure and discipline to the production floor, stay calm when challenges arise, and never compromise on safety or quality. You enjoy working closely with your team, solving problems at the source, and continuously looking for smarter and more reliable ways to operate. You are comfortable making decisions, holding high standards, and taking responsibility for delivering results in a safety-critical environment.