Ursa Major was founded to address a critical shortfall in the U.S. industrial base and bring a new model to aerospace and defense systems: we design and manufacture the world’s leading propulsion systems for space, hypersonic applications, and missile systems.
Our products and technologies require an extraordinary team – a team that will mold tomorrow’s technologies while deploying today’s best. We are an intrinsically motivated team that has a passion for solving problems and empowering each other every day to develop our skills, knowing that there is always room for growth.
Ursa Major is seeking an Ablation Analyst to join our Solid Rocket Motors group. This position plays a key role in advancing the performance and reliability of our solid rocket motor products by analyzing, modeling, and improving ablative materials and thermal protection systems. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in thermal analysis, materials science, and experience with ablation modeling in high-performance aerospace systems.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct detailed thermal and ablation analysis of solid rocket motor components, focusing on performance under extreme conditions.
- Develop and validate computational models to predict material erosion, heat transfer, and gas-surface interactions.
- Evaluate and select ablative materials and thermal protection systems for use in solid rocket motors.
- Support design teams with data-driven insights to optimize motor performance and longevity.
- Perform testing and analysis to validate ablative material behavior and identify areas for improvement.
- Collaborate with engineers and material scientists to integrate advanced materials into production designs.
- Generate reports and present findings to internal and external stakeholders, including customers and regulatory agencies.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field (Master’s or Ph.D. preferred).
- 3+ years of experience in thermal or materials analysis, with an emphasis on ablation in aerospace or related industries.
- Proficiency in computational modeling tools such as ANSYS, Fluent, or similar software.
- Familiarity with manufacturing and testing methods for ablative materials.
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with solid rocket motor development and testing.
- Knowledge of composite materials and their thermal properties.
- Familiarity with DoD or aerospace industry standards.
Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $100,000 - $150,000, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. What we can’t quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy. Click here for more information about our awesome benefits.
Classification: Full-time Exempt
Benefits Include:
- Unlimited PTO - Vacation, Sick, Personal, and Bereavement
- Paid Parental and Adoptive Leave
- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Tax Advantage Accounts (HSA/FSA)
- Employer Paid Short and Long Term Disability, Basic Life, AD&D
- Additional Benefit Options Including Voluntary Life and Emergency Medical Transport
- EAP Program
- Retirement Savings Plan - Traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k)
- Equity Grants in the Company
NOTE: Research suggests that women and BIPOC individuals may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who believes they have the skills and the drive necessary to succeed here to apply for this role.
US CITIZENSHIP, PERMANENT RESIDENCY, REFUGEE OR ASYLUM STATUS IS REQUIRED.
We’re an equal-opportunity employer. You will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.
No outside recruiters, please.
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What the Team is Saying
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What We Do
At Ursa Major, we are powering the future of aerospace. We see aerospace advancement as a technological imperative and we’re accelerating the industry as the leading source of world-class propulsion systems.
We meticulously design, craft, and test engines that are optimized to offer high performance, diverse capability, and unwavering reliability.
Why Work With Us
As much as we value talent, we know that it’s meaningless without the drive, humility, and hunger to work on a team. A team shares a common goal and obsesses about achieving it together. This requires leaving egos at the door and committing to do whatever’s required (within reason) to achieve mission success.
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Ursa Major Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
