Innovation Engineer

Innovation Engineer

Syndicate

Riverton

Full-time Exempt

Shift: Monday-Friday

Company Overview:

Syndicate is a growing organization that provides shared services and operational support to multiple affiliated entities. The innovation engineer plays a critical role in driving a culture of solution focused creativity and tangible results across all entities.

Position Overview

Small Arms Defense Skunk Works environment.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of new firearm products, components, and accessories from concept through commercialization
• Conduct research on emerging technologies, materials, and manufacturing methods to drive innovation
• Create detailed 3D models, engineering drawings, and specifications using CAD software
• Develop and execute product testing protocols, including durability, safety, and performance validation
• Analyze test data and implement design improvements based on findings
• Ensure all products meet applicable federal, state, and industry regulations and safety standards
• Collaborate with manufacturing teams to optimize designs for manufacturability and cost efficiency
• Support prototyping efforts, including hands-on assembly and evaluation of test units
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for product issues
• Work with suppliers and vendors on material selection and component development
• Maintain thorough documentation including design history files, test reports, and compliance records
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives and innovation strategy planning

Job Qualifications (Required)

• Technical Foundation
  • Mechanical engineering fundamentals with deep understanding of firearms and accessories
  • Materials science expertise: metallurgy, composites, polymers, and emerging materials (metal matrix composites, advanced ceramics, carbon fiber applications)
  • CAD proficiency (SolidWorks or Creo) with ability to rapidly iterate designs

• Multidisciplinary Technical Skills
• • Additive manufacturing expertise (DMLS, SLM, binder jetting) for rapid prototyping and novel geometries
• Innovation & Problem-Solving
• • Systematic innovation frameworksBiomimicry and cross-domain
  • solution mining (applying concepts from unrelated fields)
  • Constraint-based thinking: thriving when told "impossible" requirements
• Prototyping & Testing
• • Rapid prototyping mindset: comfort with "good enough to test" over perfection
  • Data acquisition and analysis (LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB)
  • Test plan development and DOE (Design of Experiments) methodology
  • Hands-on troubleshooting in field conditions
• Manufacturing & Producibility
• • Design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA)
  • Understanding of production processes: CNC, MIM, stamping, extrusion, IM
  • Tolerance stack-up analysis and GD&T expertise
• Domain-Specific Knowledge
• • Operational experience or deep user empathy (combat veteran, competitive shooter, or extensive end-user engagement)
  • Threat assessment and emerging tactical requirements
  • International small arms landscape and competitive analysis
  • Military standards (MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-1913, etc.) and proof testing requirements
• Skunk Works Mindset
• • Extreme ownership and self-direction
  • Comfort with ambiguity and rapidly changing requirements
  • Speed bias: 80% solution tomorrow beats 100% solution next quarter
  • Scrappiness: making do with limited resources
  • Direct communication style, bypassing bureaucracy when mission-critical
  • Willingness to challenge conventional wisdom
• Soft Skills & Attributes
• • Technical communication: translating complex engineering to military end-users and non-technical leadership
  • Collaborative spirit despite independent work style
  • Intellectual curiosity: constant learning across disciplines
  • Resilience: handling failed tests and rapid pivots without losing momentum
• Cultural Fit Indicators
• • Thrives in unstructured environments
  • Driven by mission impact over process compliance
  • Comfortable being the "jack of all trades, master of several"
  • Excited by technical risk-taking
  • Prefers building things to endless analysis
  • Can context-switch rapidly between projects

Job Qualifications (Preferred)

• Multidisciplinary Technical Skills
  • Electronics and programming
  • Optics and photonics experience
• Bonus Differentiators
  • Competition shooting experience (USPSA, 3-Gun, PRS) for user perspective
  • Software development skills