Production Chemist

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Production Chemist — Explosives Manufacturing

Job Title

Production Chemist

Department

Production

Reports To

Head of Production

Location

Ballinger, TX

Travel

Occasional ( 10%), including customer, subcontractor, and government-site visits

Position Summary

The QA/QC Explosives Chemist performs in-process and finished-product chemical analysis on production explosives to verify that chemical composition conforms to approved specifications, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory standards. Beyond routine testing, the chemist serves as a technical resource for troubleshooting mixing and processing issues, providing chemistry input on new facility equipment layout and process design, and supporting environmental compliance. This role requires the ability to work safely and methodically with energetic and reactive materials in a highly regulated manufacturing environment.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Analytical Testing & In-Process Verification

• Collect and prepare representative in-process and finished-product samples following established sampling protocols.

• Perform quantitative and qualitative analysis to confirm chemical composition, concentration, and conformance to specification (e.g., chromatography, spectroscopy, density, moisture content, particle size, viscosity, and thermal characterization).

• Compare results against specification limits, release conforming product, and quarantine/hold non-conforming material.

• Generate Certificates of Analysis (COA) and maintain accurate, audit-ready batch and test records.

• Operate, calibrate, and maintain laboratory instrumentation; ensure measurement traceability and instrument qualification.

• Work with contractors and SMEs to develop RDX, HMX, and LAP processes and future facilities at CMG.

• Process Troubleshooting & Technical Support

• Investigate out-of-specification results and process deviations using structured root-cause analysis.

• Work with production to diagnose mixing and processing issues (e.g., composition variance, blend uniformity, emulsion/matrix stability, moisture or temperature effects, raw-material variability).

• Recommend and help verify corrective and preventive actions (CAPA); support reprocessing or disposition decisions.

• Support method development, validation, and transfer for new or revised products and processes.

• Facility, Equipment & Process Design Input

• Provide chemistry and materials-compatibility input on new equipment selection, equipment layout, and process flow for safe, efficient, and compliant production.

• Review proposed process changes (Management of Change) for impact on product quality, material compatibility, and analytical capability.

• Support commissioning, qualification, and startup of new processing and laboratory equipment.

• Environmental & Regulatory Compliance

• Support waste characterization, sampling, and monitoring programs, and assist with environmental reporting.

• Provide analytical data and technical input for permitting, recordkeeping, and compliance with applicable air, water, and waste regulations.

• Help ensure laboratory and production practices align with the facility's quality system and regulatory obligations.

• Quality System & Safety

• Maintain laboratory documentation in accordance with the quality management system (e.g., ISO 9001; ISO/IEC 17025 where applicable).

• Participate in internal/external audits, specification reviews, and continuous-improvement initiatives.

• Strictly follow all site safety procedures for handling energetic and hazardous materials, including Process Safety Management practices, lockout/tagout, and required PPE.

• Promptly report hazards, near-misses, and incidents.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related physical science.

• Experience: Minimum 3–5 years of analytical/QC laboratory experience, preferably in explosives, propellants, energetic materials, or another regulated chemical-manufacturing environment.

• Hands-on proficiency with standard analytical techniques (e.g., HPLC/GC, ion chromatography, FTIR/UV-Vis, titrimetry, Karl Fischer moisture, thermal analysis such as DSC/TGA, density and particle-size measurement).

• Working knowledge of quality systems, statistical process control, and root-cause/CAPA methodology.

• Familiarity with the regulatory framework governing explosives manufacturing and handling (e.g., ATF, DOT, OSHA PSM, EPA environmental regulations, and applicable NFPA standards).

• Demonstrated commitment to safety and the discipline to follow detailed procedures precisely.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field.

• Direct experience with commercial or defense explosives, blasting agents, emulsions, or energetic formulations in a QA/QC capacity.

• Experience supporting facility/process design, equipment qualification, or technology transfer.

• Experience with ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory accreditation and method validation.

• Familiarity with environmental permitting and hazardous-waste management programs.

• ATF employer-clearance eligibility (responsible/employee possessor as applicable).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with rigorous attention to detail.

• Sound judgment when interpreting data and making product-disposition decisions.

• Clear technical writing and verbal communication; able to document findings for audits and cross-functional teams.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with production, engineering, EHS, and R&D.

• Strong organizational and time-management skills to handle concurrent testing priorities.

• High degree of personal accountability for safety and compliance.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Work is performed in laboratory and manufacturing settings that may involve exposure to chemicals, energetic materials, noise, temperature variation, and outdoor conditions.

• Required use of personal protective equipment per site procedures.

• Must be able to stand for extended periods, perform fine manipulation of laboratory glassware and instruments, and lift/move materials up to 25 lbs.

• Must comply with all facility security, access-control, and explosives-handling requirements.

Compliance & Eligibility Notes

• Employment is contingent on the ability to meet applicable regulatory clearance requirements for working at a licensed explosives facility (e.g., ATF background screening).

• This position may be subject to substance-screening, security, and site-specific medical surveillance programs.