Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives (OME) Engineer - Warhead Development

Location: Abbey Wood, Bristol / Hybrid working

Rate: Up to £570 per day

IR35 Status: Inside IR35

Contract: 1 December 2026 to 31 March 2027

Closing Date: 20 November 2026 at 10:00

Security Clearance: Current SC clearance required

Overview

Our customer, a large defence organisation, is seeking an experienced Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives (OME) Engineer to support Programme DEVASTATOR, contributing to the development and demonstration of future UK warhead capabilities for Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms.

The role will provide specialist technical expertise across warhead requirements, design assessment, industry proposal evaluation and test and trial activities, supporting the development of future lethal package solutions.

Team Context

Programme DEVASTATOR, within the Lethal Packages Team, is establishing competitive industry activities to develop and demonstrate warhead capabilities for three UAV platforms.

The programme aims to increase the availability, maturity and diversity of lethal package solutions for future defence programmes, with engineering support required across multiple development workstreams.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide OME subject matter expertise to support the development of competition requirements and associated warhead requirements documentation.
• Advise on warhead effects, lethality mechanisms and energetic material considerations, producing technical advice to support engineering decisions.
• Support the development of outcome-based performance requirements and technical specifications.
• Undertake technical evaluation of industry proposals and warhead concepts, contributing to technical evaluation reports.
• Assess warhead design approaches, performance predictions and technical risks, producing design assessment reports.
• Support design reviews and engineering decision-making activities, providing technical evidence and recommendations.
• Contribute to the development of test and trial methodologies, including trial requirements and test plans.
• Assess demonstration and trial results, contributing to trial assessment reports and recommendations.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Qualified OME Engineer or equivalent Defence engineering experience.
• Significant experience in warhead, munitions, energetic materials or weapon system development.
• Knowledge of blast, fragmentation and terminal effects.
• Experience conducting technical assessments and design reviews.
• Familiarity with Defence OME regulations, processes and standards.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience within Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives (OME) or defence capability development.
• Experience supporting warhead development programmes.
• Experience with explosive trials and testing activities.
• Knowledge of Insensitive Munitions requirements and standards.
• Experience working with DSTL, QinetiQ or UK Defence industry suppliers.
• Understanding of weapon system integration considerations.
• Knowledge of UAV platforms and their payloads.

Additional Information

• Hybrid working arrangements are expected, with attendance at MOD Bristol / Abbey Wood, DSTL and other stakeholder sites as required.
• Travel to and from the base location is included within the day rate.