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.
As Ursa Major expands into the realm of solid propulsion, we’re assembling the most innovative and nimble team in order to unseat the reigning players. We’re applying the latest technologies to an outdated business model that improves cost, lead time, and flexibility without impacting reliability. We must continue to build in-house capabilities in energetics, ballistics, and composites with an emphasis on novel designs focused on manufacturability and high-rate scalability.
Development engineers are primarily responsible for all aspects of the design, fabrication and test of development hardware for Ursa Major’s solid motor program as well as process development for new and novel approaches to manufacturing. Success on this team requires an understanding of solid rocket propulsion fundamentals, mechanical and fluid systems, strong critical thinking skills, attention to detail, organization, and effective communication across discipline groups.
Responsibilities
- Clean sheet design of novel solid rocket motor elements with limited guidance from subject matter experts, including relevant analysis.
- Lead cross-functional communications to ensure designs satisfy the needs of each stakeholder.
- Maintain proper documentation of all designs including design reviews, drawings, test plans, requirements verification, etc.
- Evaluate novel manufacturing approaches and support experimentation to validate conceptual approaches.
- Coordinate with procurement team to identify potential supply chain risks and mitigate appropriately.
- Support the fabrication and assembly of prototype hardware.
- Provide dispositions for discrepant hardware including supporting analysis if required.
- Develop test plans including required instrumentation and coordinate with test team to execute.
- Review test data to ensure the product is operating as expected and support design changes as needed.
- Own failure investigations as needed.
- Develop and maintain aggressive but achievable product schedules that proactively identify and mitigate high-risk design decisions.
- Generate CAD models and drawings that are consistent with internal best practices and ASME Y14.5-2009 using Siemens NX software
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or other applicable discipline
- 2-4 years of professional rocket propulsion experience
- Knowledge of solid rocket motor fundamentals
- Programming competency in any language
- This position requires that the employee be eligible and maintain eligibility for a Secret Clearance.
Desired Experience
- 4-6 years of professional rocket propulsion experience (e.g., professional experience, university design team, personal project)
- Experience handling and testing energetic materials
- Experience with energetic material properties testing
- Experience with ablative material composition, design, and testing
- Programming competency in Python and/or MATLAB and FORTRAN
- Experience with CAD modeling (NX preferred)
- Experience with chemical kinetics solvers (CEA, CLWire, ProPEP)
- Experience with FEA/CFD software packages (ANSYS preferred)
- Hands-on hardware experience with fluid/mechanical systems, including design and safety review
- DoD Secret Security Clearance or higher.
Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $95,000- $130,000, 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
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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.
