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 / Suppressor / Accessory / Defense Skunk Works environment.

Job Responsibilities

Lead the design and development of new products, components, and accessories from concept through pre-commercialization
Conduct research on emerging technologies, materials, and manufacturing methods to drive innovation
Create detailed 3D models, engineering drawings, and specifications using CAD software
Analyze test data and implement design improvements based on findings
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
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 experience: 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 frameworks / Biomimicry 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
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

Learn more about this Employer on their Career Site

Syndicate Innovation Engineer