Propellant R&D Technician at Destinus in Payerne, Vaud, Switzerland

Propellant R&D Technician

About the Role

The Destinus engineering team is seeking a Propellant Technician to produce solid rocket motors for R&D programmes and test campaigns. This is a hands-on chemistry and production role operating in a tightly regulated, safety-critical environment – where process discipline, quality, and meticulous documentation are as important as the production work itself.

The ideal candidate is technically grounded, follows procedures exactly, and takes personal accountability for the quality of every motor that leaves their bench.

What You’ll Do

· Produce propellant mixes, cast grains, and manufacture solid rocket motors for R&D programmes and test campaigns, following validated batch records and SOPs

· Prepare and handle energetic and chemical raw materials – weighing, mixing, and processing in strict accordance with safety protocols and operating procedures

· Operate and monitor production equipment (mixers, casting stations, curing ovens); record all process parameters accurately throughout each batch

· Complete batch documentation fully and traceably for every run: materials, lot numbers, process parameters, deviations, and personnel

· Perform in-process quality checks and dimensional/visual inspection of finished motors; identify and escalate non-conformances immediately

· Write, maintain, and improve SOPs for propellant and motor production operations; ensure repeatability and safety at every step

· Support post-test teardown and failure investigation activities alongside propulsion engineers

· Maintain a clean, organized, and fully compliant production area at all times

Requirements

What You’ll Need

· Background in chemistry, chemical technology, or a related technical field – Chemietechnologe/in, process technician, or equivalent; Chemielaborant EFZ is a plus

· Hands-on experience in chemical or energetic materials production; experience with propellants, pyrotechnics, or explosives manufacturing is a strong advantage

· Exceptional process discipline – follows SOPs exactly, documents everything, and does not improvise in a safety-critical environment

· Experience with in-process quality control and inspection in a production or laboratory environment

· Comfortable working in a small R&D team where priorities shift and production runs vary in scale and complexity

· Fluent in English; German or French is an advantage