Career as a Weapons Engineer: How to Become One, Courses, Skills, Salary, and Scope

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Career as a Weapons Engineer

Have you ever wondered who made the first gun? In the 10th century, the Chinese invented a way to fire lance with a bamboo tube that used gunpowder. That technique got advanced with time and several other types of weapons were created. And fast-forwarding to the 21st century, we have a dedicated career for those who want to learn more about Weapons. Weapons Engineering is a branch of engineering concerned with designing, maintaining, developing, and testing weapons for the military. If you are someone scouting for exciting job opportunities after PCM then keep reading because we are about to unravel an exciting career of a Weapons Engineer for all science students!

Who is a Weapons Engineer?

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When you hear the words weapons engineer, the first thing that comes to your mind is someone who designs or manages the weapons. However, the field of weapons engineering holds so much more than you think it does. Not only to design but to test, develop and manage the weapons and the weapons system are the other related things that a weapons engineer does. Developing artillery and weapons for the military or private contractors is the job of a weapons engineer. A Weapon Engineer must have complete knowledge related to the electrical, optical, mechanical, chemical, mechatronics, aerospace, and material engineering fields, as the work of a Weapons Engineer involves all these areas.

Also Read: How to Join an Indian Army after 12th?

Roles and Responsibilities

The day-to-day roles and responsibilities of a Weapons Engineer are mentioned below:

  • Designing Weapons and Equipment: Create a blueprint and 3D model for weapons like guns, missiles, tanks, drones, and radars. Designing the new weapons and enhancing the pre-existing designs of the weapons. They use software such as AutoCAD, Solidworks, or any other weapons design system.
  • Testing and Evaluation: They test weapons in laboratories to ensure safety and performance. They are also testing the new equipment that is manufactured for military use.
  • Maintenance and Troubleshooting: Maintenance of the weapon system to ensure proper functioning. Conducting routine inspections and suggesting upgrades. 
  • Cost and Resource Management: Manage the cost of materials and time required for development. Ensure the quality and quantity of the project stay within budget and on schedule.

Must Read: How to Join RAW in India?

How to Start a Career as a Weapons Engineer? 

If you want to start a career as a Weapons Engineer/Designer, you must have the proper qualifications related to the field. The major required degrees according to the level of education are mentioned below:

Undergraduate Courses

  • BE / B Tech in Mechanical Engineering
  • BE / B Tech in Production 
  • BE / B Tech in Chemical Engineering
  • BE / B Tech in Material and Metallurgy Engineering
  • BE / B Tech in Electrical Engineering
  • BE / B Tech in Air Armament 
  • BE / B Tech in Combat Vehicles 
  • BE / B Tech in Guided Missiles  
  • BE / B Tech in Microwave and Radar  
  • BE / B Tech in Guidance and Navigation Control

Postgraduate Courses

  • ME / M Tech in Mechanical 
  • ME / M Tech in Production 
  • ME / M Tech in Chemical 
  • ME / M Tech in Material and Metallurgy 
  • ME / M Tech in Electrical 
  • ME / M Tech in Air Armament
  • ME / M Tech in Combat Vehicles 
  • ME / M Tech in Guided Missiles  
  • ME / M Tech in Microwave and Radar
  • ME / M Tech in Guidance and Navigation Control

Doctoral Courses

  • Ph.D. in Mechanical
  • PhD in Production 
  • PhD in Chemical  
  • PhD in Material and Metallurgy 
  • PhD in Electrical 
  • PhD in Air Armament
  • PhD in Combat Vehicles 
  • PhD in Guided Missiles  
  • PhD in Microwave and Radar 
  • PhD in Guidance and Navigation Control

Note: This is not an exhaustive list. The courses can vary from one university to another.

To get diverse knowledge and practical experience of the subjects, here are the top study abroad universities that are the best in helping to kick-start your career as a Weapons Engineer:

University Name Location 
Cranfield Defence and Security, UKUnited Kingdom 
Taylor’s University, Malaysia
Naval Postgraduate School, USA
Stevens Institute of Technology, USAUSA
University of Wolverhampton, UKUNited Kingdom
American Military University, USAUSA
United States Naval Academy, USAUSA
University of Leeds, UKUnited Kingdom 
United States Military AcademyUSA
The University of Adelaide, AustraliaAustralia 

Top Colleges for Weapons Engineering in India

University Location 
Defence Institute of Advanced TechnologyPune
Institute of Armament TechnologyPune
Indian Institute of TechnologyBombay
Indian Institute of Technology KharagpurKharagpur
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
Manipal Institute of TechnologyKarnataka
SRM UniversityChennai
College of Military EngineeringPune
MIT School of Engineering, MIT-ADT UniversityPune
UPESDehradun

Also Read: 6 Innovative Engineering Careers in 2025

Skills Required for Weapon Engineer

To succeed as a weapons engineer, you must have the following skills: 

  • Strong knowledge of physics and mathematics 
  • Expertise in CAD and simulation software
  • Understanding of electronics and mechanics 
  • Communication and teamwork skills
  • Problem-solving and analytical skills.

Major Areas of Employment

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Till now, you have read about the essential roles and courses that are required to start your career. Let’s have a look at some of the major employment scopes that you will have after becoming a successful Weapons Engineer:

  • Research and Development
  • Weapons Maintenance Engineering
  • Weapons Engineering
  • Product Designing
  • Engineering 
  • Software Development

Average Salary of a Weapons Engineer in India 

The average salary is based on experience, qualifications, and the type of organisation you have worked for. Here is an average estimate of the wages for weapons engineers: 

Experience Level Average Salary in INR Per Year 
Fresher INR 4,000,000- INR 6,00,000
Mid-level (5-110 yrs)INR 8,00,000- INR 15,00,000
Senior Engineer INR 20 Lakhs or more 

Weapons Engineer Average Salary in Different Countries

Here is a list of some top countries that offer a good salary to weapon engineers: 

Country Average Salary Per Year 
United State USD 75,000- USD 130,000
United Kingdom EUR 40,000- EUR 75,000
Australia AUD 70,000- EUR 120,000
France EUR 45,000- EUR 80,000
Japan JPY 6,000,000- JPY 10,000,000
South Korea KRW 45,000,000- KRW 50,000,000

Also Read: How to Become a Software Engineer?

FAQs

Who is a Weapon Engineer?

A Weapon Engineer must have complete knowledge related to the electrical, optical, mechanical, chemical, mechatronics, aerospace, and material engineering fields, as the work of a Weapons Engineer involves all these areas.

Which is the best university for Weapon engineering?

Cranfield Defense and Security, UK
Taylor’s University, Malaysia
Naval Postgraduate School, USA
Stevens Institute of Technology, USA
University of Wolverhampton, UK

Which are the best UG courses for Weapon Engineering?

BE / B Tech in Mechanical Engineering
BE / B Tech in Production
BE / B Tech in Chemical Engineering
BE / B Tech in Material and Metallurgy Engineering
BE / B Tech in Electrical Engineering

Is weapon engineering a good career?

Weapons engineers are sometimes known as combat engineers. According to statistics, the average annual pay is around Rs 30 lakh. Salaries vary by position and are determined by criteria such as skill set, work experience, and educational qualifications.

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This was all about the career as a Weapons Engineer. Are you looking to explore such a profession? And want to know more about them follow Leverage Edu

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5 comments
    1. Hey Sajan Rajput,

      As a commerce student you cannot directly apply for a weapons designing course. Weapon designing particularly when it is related to military applications requires you to have solid basis in engineering. Those with backgrounds in mechanical, electrical, or chemical engineering are preferred. Since you lack this technical background you are inelgible to apply for a weapons designing course.

      For further information, consult the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu.