Full-Time
Weapon Systems Instructor
Kraken Kinetics
11-50 employees
Manufactures high-performance warheads for unmanned systems
Compensation Overview
$90k - $115k/yr
Seven Lakes, NC, USA + 1 more
More locations: Pinehurst, NC, USA
In Person
On-site in the Pinehurst area; domestic and international travel required, up to 50%.
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- Demonstrated experience with controlled kinetic systems, weaponized unmanned aircraft systems platforms, or munitions integration.
- Experience operating in live-fire, safety-critical, or high-risk operational environments.
- Prior instructional, evaluator, or team-lead experience in a military or comparable operational environment.
- Strong understanding of range safety principles and risk mitigation practices.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally in support of training events, including travel of up to 50%.
- Ability to work in the field and austere environments for up to 15 hours at a time.
- Ability to wear body armor, a helmet, and other personal protective equipment for extended durations of up to 15 hours.
- Experience working with demolitions and conducting high-risk training evolutions.
- Ability to lift 100 pounds from the ground to above waist level on a regular basis.
- Ability to work in all weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold, for extended periods of time.
- Deliver standardized Periods of Instruction in accordance with the Kraken Kinetics Training Program.
- Support and execute domestic and international New Equipment Training events.
- Assist in live-fly, live-fire, and operator certification events.
- Conduct student evaluations, teach-backs, and performance assessments.
- Ensure instructional delivery is consistent with approved courseware and training standards.
- Maintain working knowledge of Kraken Kinetics product lines and partner platform integrations.
- Understand operational considerations across supported drone platforms and vendors.
- Maintain deployment readiness and instructional proficiency standards established by the Director of Training.
- Enforce established safety procedures, range protocols, and risk mitigation standards during training events.
- Identify unsafe conditions or integration concerns and elevate them to senior instructors or training leadership.
- Support safe handling and operational employment of controlled kinetic systems.
- Assist in the development and revision of training materials, operator guides, and instructional aids.
- Ensure instructional delivery reflects current engineering revisions and system configurations.
- Document field observations and submit structured feedback reports to the Training Division.
- Contribute to after-action reviews and training improvement efforts.
- Represent Kraken Kinetics during training engagements, demonstrations, and industry events.
- Maintain professional communication and operational credibility during engagements.
- Support partner integration efforts alongside customer and vendor personnel when required.
- Veteran with experience in combat arms, explosive ordnance disposal, fires, special operations forces, tactical unmanned aircraft systems, or related operational specialties.
- Experience with kinetic drone employment or fire control integration.
- Prior experience delivering formal training or certification events.
- Familiarity with multi-platform unmanned aircraft systems integration environments.
- Experience supporting partner or international training engagements.
Kraken Kinetics develops high-performance warheads and fuzing systems for unmanned and autonomous military platforms. The company designs and manufactures mission-tailored kinetic munitions (including tungsten fragmentation, shaped charge, EFP, thermobaric, and reactive materials) and advanced fuzing, with products like the Terminus warhead that uses a LIDAR height-of-burst sensor to defeat vehicle armor. Its weapons are deployed on drones and in drone swarms, and the firm has demonstrated multi-target EFP strikes controlled by a single operator. The organization leverages a background from a government group that pioneered kinetic drones for the DoD, enabling rapid development and scalable production through proprietary design tools. Kraken Kinetics aims to provide modular, cost-effective, and scalable munitions for small drones and to secure large-scale production contracts for national security applications.
Company Size
11-50
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
N/A
Founded
2023
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- May 2026 DIU recognition placed Kraken on a preferred munitions list.
- 2026 hiring spanned engineering, compliance, finance, and production, signaling active scale-up.
- Terminus saw operational use in Ukraine and demos with Army Rangers and Marines.
What critics are saying
- Kraken still chases preferred-list status; contracts remain unannounced after May 2026.
- Warhead manufacturing faces export-control and safety compliance friction at Pinehurst facilities.
- Northrop Grumman and Bravo Ordnance pressure margins on the Pentagon’s same payload problem.
What makes Kraken Kinetics unique
- 2026 Drone Dominance win validates Kraken’s modular small-drone lethality payloads.
- Terminus pairs EFP warheads with LIDAR height-of-burst sensing for armored targets.
- Founders came from a government kinetic-drones group, speeding DoD integration.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance
Disability Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Life Insurance
Paid Vacation