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.
The Director of Avionics is a key role that will manage and develop the team responsible for avionics development across all Ursa products. The team is responsible for engine instrumentation, harnessing, controllers (board layout, design and enclosures) embedded and User Interface software. The team also maintains and operates the component level HIL (Hardware in the Loop) testing facility and standards, as well as component-level ATP processes for both development and production. The team also assists other areas of the business with expertise related to electronic hardware or internally developed embedded software.
This role will be continuously engaged in strategic product development initiatives, technology development, capital expenditure planning, and extreme attention to individual mentorship, hiring, and growth of the avionics team as our products evolve.
Responsibilities:
- Manage an avionics team of through direct mentorship, coaching, and guidance to successfully hit internal and external program and project milestones.
- Provide a technology and product roadmap that translates to a team mission and direction on a quarterly and annual basis.
- Plan and execute hiring ahead of program needs. Maintain an up to date hiring model.
- Engage in technical mentorship and training with team members to broaden an enhance skillsets and capabilities within the group to create a world-class avionics team.
- Develop and maintain a proper software quality control plan and implement this across all products.
- Be the outward facing contact for customer questions regarding our avionics and software quality, design, and risks.
- Internal ownership of product and schedule risks & risk mitigation plans. Ownership, direction, and communication of failure analyses as necessary to sufficient root cause.
- Contribute technical work as possible where technical, staffing, or experience-related gaps exist on the team.
- Work with other directors and leaders at Ursa Major to develop & maintain common engineering processes.
- Develop and maintain component-level qualification and acceptance test plan strategies for all avionics hardware across all programs.
Required Qualifications:
- Minimum of a B.S. degree in aerospace, electrical, or software engineering.
- Comfortable working in fast-paced, startup environment.
- Experience writing and reviewing requirement
- Design or development experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Mechanical design
- Electrical circuit design
- Actuator / motor design
- Embedded product software design
- Working knowledge of industry accepted aerospace-level hardware and software qualification requirements.
- Experience in root-cause analysis.
Desired Experience:
- 15+ years’ experience in aerospace-grade avionics design, development, and testing.
- Demonstrated success as project or team lead across multiple programs.
- Exemplary written and verbal communication skills.
- Hiring & building teams from scratch to 30+ people.
- Experience working at a small company / startup environment.
- Development of avionics hardware systems from prototype to production-capable / flight-worthy hardware.
Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $220,000 - $260,000, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The salary range for this role is intentionally wide as we are evaluating individuals based on their unique experience and abilities to fit our needs. Most importantly, we are excited to meet you, and see if you are a great fit for our team. 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.
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.
Top Skills
What the Team is Saying
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.
