Queen’s Rocket Engineering Team (qret) - Technical Lead

Technical Lead For Queen's Rocket Engineering Team

Develop technical skills and lead the future of student rocketry.

Bring your technical expertise and ambition to learn to the Queen's Rocket Engineering Team (QRET) as one of its next technical leads. QRET is excited to enter its next chapter of hybrid rocketry which presents many novel technical challenges for you to solve.

The Queen's Rocket Engineering Team is a diverse team of undergraduate students with a burning passion for rocketry and all things space. Every year, the team designs, builds, tests, and launches rockets at national and international competitions. Our goal is not only to design, build, and safely launch rockets, but also to provide every member with the opportunity to learn about rocketry, systems, and engineering design.

As Technical lead on QRET, you will lead your subteam through the full design and manufacturing cycle, guiding the project from initial concept to launch. You will oversee key technical decisions and coordinate closely with your general members to assign tasks and maintain project progress. You will work closely with the team executive and lead the day to day operations of your project.

This role demands decisive leadership with a combination of technical strength and organizational management. You will drive accountability, foster collaboration across your subteams and ensure every milestone moves the team closer to a successful launch.

As a Technical lead, you will be responsible for:

• Overseeing technical design, manufacturing, and system integration of your technical team.
• Defining subteam goals and establishing a clear vision for the upcoming design cycle.
• Driving design progress by regularly reviewing technical developments and ensuring consistent, measurable advancement.
• Managing, budgeting, and strategic resource allocation for your project

The ideal candidate:

• Brings strong technical skills and a desire to learn
• Is eager to grow as a leader and take on accountability for a project
• Has a clear vision for team growth and success
• Thrives in high-responsibility, fast-paced environments

Proposed Technical Teams (& Scopes):

• Aerostructures (Airframe, aerodynamics, recovery systems)
• Mechanical Design (Internal systems, external ground support)
• Avionics (Flight computers, launch control systems, software development hardware design)
• Payload (Design your own scientific experiment for launch)
• Propulsion Motor (nozzle, structures, performance analytics)
• Propulsion Oxidizer Systems (Fill Panel, valves, pneumatics)
• Solid Rocketry (Certification launches, kit rockets)

Multiple leads will be hired to cover the proposed scope of each technical subteam. Please apply to all technical teams you are interested in leading.

If you are motivated by responsibility, technical applications, and ready to elevate both people and projects, this is your opportunity to develop your leadership skills and leave a lasting impact on QRET's technical direction.

The Queen's Rocket Engineering Team encourages applications from women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, Persons with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community. Prior experience on the team is not required, and we welcome candidates with strong technical expertise, operational experience, or a combination of both. If you require accommodation during the interview process, please contact qret@engsoc.queensu.ca.

Apply by: Friday March 27th, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST