Engineering Jobs in Catharpin, VA

Job Title : Nuclear Engineer (Naval Reactors Engineer) Category / Component : Officer • Active Overview Design, regulate, and oversee the Navy's nuclear propulsion program, including reactor design, fleet operations, and eventual defueling and decommissioning of nuclear powered ships and submarines from Naval Reactors Headquarters and associated Department of Energy laboratories and shipyards.

Key Responsibilities Provide technical direction in areas such as reactor and fluid systems design, reactor physics, materials development, component design for steam generators, pumps, and valves, instrumentation and control for reactor and propulsion plants, testing and quality control, radiation shielding, and chemistry and radiological controls; review designs and analyses from laboratories, shipyards, and industry partners; coordinate with fleet units to ensure safe and reliable nuclear plant operation.

What to Expect Assume significant technical responsibility early in your career as part of a lean headquarters staff; work primarily in an analytical and oversight role rather than operating plants at sea; balance long term engineering projects with time sensitive fleet and shipyard issues; frequent coordination with senior civilian engineers, naval officers, and technical teams; high expectations for attention to detail, judgment, and written and oral communication.

Work Environment Work mainly at Naval Reactors Headquarters in the Washington, District of Columbia area with regular engagement with Department of Energy laboratories, nuclear training sites, shipyards, and nuclear powered ships and submarines; office based work that includes document reviews, technical meetings, inspections, and site visits rather than day to day shipboard watchstanding.

Pathways, Training & Advancement Officer commissioning through programs such as Officer Candidate School or the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate program followed by a structured technical qualification program at Naval Reactors; rotational exposure to laboratories, prototypes, shipyards, and fleet support issues; progressive responsibility leading projects and becoming a subject matter expert, with opportunities for professional military education and advanced graduate study in technical fields.

Entry through the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate program for qualified college students and recent graduates, or selection via Officer Candidate School for those who already hold qualifying degrees; all applicants must meet Nuclear Propulsion Program academic and technical screening standards in addition to general officer commissioning requirements.

Qualifications All Navy jobs require meeting general enlistment or commissioning standards, which typically include: Eligibility to serve in the United States Navy, which may involve United States citizenship or other legal residency and work status, depending on the program and current law and policy A high school diploma or equivalent for enlisted positions, and a bachelor's or qualifying professional degree for officer positions Meeting age limits that vary by program and are set in law and Navy policy.

Some communities have more restrictive age ranges Meeting medical, vision, and dental standards, including body composition and physical fitness requirements, with some jobs requiring more demanding standards Meeting character and conduct standards, including background screening Achieving required test scores for your program, such as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery for enlisted roles or officer qualification tests for officer programs Eligibility for a security clearance when required for your rating or designator Additional qualifications can include specific skills, education, licensure, or experience that are unique to a job or community and will be reviewed with you by a recruiter.

Additional qualifications for this job may include: Completion of a rigorous technical degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, or a closely related field that includes strong backgrounds in calculus and physics; outstanding academic record, particularly in technical coursework; United States citizenship and eligibility for a high level security clearance; strong technical aptitude and comfort with detailed analytical work.

Education Education benefits are available through standard Navy programs such as Tuition Assistance, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, ACE-recommended college credit for Navy training, Navy COOL-funded certifications, USMAP apprenticeships, and other Navy College Program opportunities.

Specific options depend on the Sailor's status, training, and current Navy policy.

Pay, Benefits & Service Pay, benefits, and service commitments follow standard Navy Active and/or Reserve policies for this type of role, including basic pay, allowances when eligible, health coverage, and retirement options.

Exact entitlements, special pays, and service obligations depend on program, component, years of service, and current law and Navy guidance.

Incentives Incentives such as bonuses, special pays, and loan repayment may be available at times for specific ratings or communities, but they change frequently and cannot be guaranteed.

Applicants must confirm current incentives and eligibility with an official Navy recruiter or authoritative Navy source.

Notes and Disclaimers This description is a general overview of typical duties, training, and opportunities in this community.

It does not replace official Navy instructions, policies, or contracts and does not guarantee specific assignments, training, incentives, or outcomes.

Actual opportunities depend on Navy needs, individual performance, screening results, and current law and policy.

CoAspire ( ) is a cutting-edge defense manufacturing leader in Northern Virginia, specializing in the precision assembly of advanced weapons systems. With over twelve years of a legacy of innovation, we're at the forefront of building reliable, affordable mass weapons that protect and empower our nation’s warfighters. Our tight-knit team thrives in a collaborative environment where safety, quality, and work-life balance come first with a focus on professional growth at our new 27,000+ sq. ft. facility. Join us to make a tangible impact on mission-critical technology while enjoying Northern Virginia's vibrant community.

Position: You will serve as a Manufacturing Engineer supporting a prototype-to-production line of cruise missile systems. This hands-on role focuses on optimizing assembly processes, tooling, and workflows to enable affordable, scalable manufacturing while maintaining strict compliance with performance, quality, safety, and security standards. You will collaborate closely with design engineering, quality, supply chain, and production teams to transition cruise missile designs from development into sustained production, emphasizing design-for-manufacturability and affordability (DFMA), cost reduction, and first-pass yield improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and optimize production processes, tooling, fixtures, and work instructions for cruise missile assembly stations.
• Identify and implement cost-reduction opportunities, including material alternatives, process automation, and labor efficiency improvements while ensuring compliance customer requirements and specifications.
• Support cross-functional teams to perform root-cause analysis on potential production issues (e.g., fit/form issues, non-conformances, rework, test failures) and drive corrective actions with leadership.
• Conduct as-needed time studies, line balancing, capacity planning, and any internal initiatives to support production ramp-up efforts.
• Collaborate with supply chain on make-vs-buy decisions, vendor qualifications, and long-lead component sourcing for missile subsystems.
• Support development and maintenance of manufacturing-related documentation (in line with Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) expectations).
• Interface with DoW customers and suppliers to align manufacturing approaches with program milestones and affordability goals.

Qualifications:

• 2–7 years of manufacturing or production engineering experience in aerospace/defense, preferably with complex assemblies.
• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• Hands-on experience with assembly process development, tooling design, and/or production manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing techniques relevant to missile systems.
• Proficiency with manufacturing tools and software (e.g., ERP and PLM systems).
• U.S. citizenship and current Secret clearance (or ability to obtain and maintain one).
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.

Desired Skills:

• Master’s degree in Engineering or related field.
• Direct experience with cruise missile or other weapon production.
• Familiarity with automated assembly, robotic integration, or additive manufacturing for defense applications.
• Experience supporting rate production transitions and affordability initiatives on DoW programs.
• Familiarity with Cameo for MBSE efforts.

What We Offer:

Beyond competitive pay, we offer:

• Full benefits from day one: medical, dental and vision
• 401(k) with generous company match and immediate vesting
• PTO and Federal holidays

Apply now! We're reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Let's build the future together. No agencies, please.

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