Balloon Engineer

About Urban Sky: 

Urban Sky is a venture-backed aerospace startup that pioneers utilization of the stratosphere and reimagines the way humans view and analyze the earth. We design, build, operate, and sell stratospheric balloon systems, and the data we collect supports a wide range of applications, from real-time wildfire monitoring to urban mapping. Our technology is also employed by government customers including the Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, and others. Urban Sky sends flight vehicles to the stratosphere on a weekly basis. 

Our team consists of engineers, makers, developers, and doers who believe in the power of human potential when passion meets utility within a small, supportive team. At Urban Sky we strive to create a team culture grounded in candor, inclusion, respect and empowerment. 

We aim to build the next chapter of stratospheric history in Denver and are seeking self-starting, open-minded, and hard-working team members. 

About The Role: 

Urban Sky is seeking a Balloon Engineer to help design and advance the next generation of high-performance stratospheric balloon systems. Our ideal candidate has hands-on experience with balloon systems, aerostats, airships, blimps, or similar soft-goods-based systems. A background in soft goods, such as ultralight outdoor equipment, paired with a strong foundation in physics and material sciences, would also be a good fit for this position.  

In this role, you will need to understand material properties such as permeability, leakage, and seam integrity, along with how environmental factors like UV degradation and extreme cold affect performance of ultralight films. You’ll dive deep into the science and art of ballooning, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with trial-and-error testing and first-principles thinking. From seaming processes to the principles of buoyancy, your expertise will shape groundbreaking aircraft systems. 

This is not a role for those seeking a well-trodden path—our work involves solving problems with no clear precedent, designing novel solutions, and iterating rapidly in ambiguous and fast-paced environments. You should be comfortable experimenting with new designs, flying prototypes that may fail (always with safety and regulatory compliance in mind), and embracing the autonomy to innovate at the cutting edge of aerospace. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Design balloon systems 

• Use physics principles to develop balloon geometries and represent those geometries in 3D CAD software 

• Convert 3D geometries to buildable patterns using your knowledge of flat-pattern conversion within the constraints of the seaming process 

• Select materials using your knowledge of material science and vendor relationships 

• Design seam systems using your knowledge of material joining techniques like sewing, heat sealing and bonding 

• Design auxiliary components like structural mounting points, fil ports and vents and represent them in 3D CAD software 

• Use mathematical models or other tools to evaluate potential balloon performance 

• Support flight operations 

• Help the flight operations team operate the systems you design 

• Help the technical team diagnose failures 

• Support the business development team in going after new business opportunities 

• Aid in proposal writing 

Qualifications: 

• 7+ years developing systems made of thin films or fabric 

• Strong understanding of physics principles including gas laws, thermodynamics and aerodynamics 

• Strong understanding of material science  

• Strength in mathematics or an ability to develop balloon designs iteratively 

Nice-to-Haves/Preferred Skills: 

• Specific experience developing balloon designs that were used in practice (actually flew) 

• Field experience flying balloons 

• Testing experience 

• Tensile testing 

• Cold testing 

• Vacuum and / or pressure testing 

• Understanding of meteorology  

Requirements: 

• Must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident 

• Must be located near Denver, CO or willing to relocate to Denver, CO 

Benefits: 

• Salary $120,000 - $180,000 per year  
  • We are required to post this salary range per Colorado law. Your salary will be determined based on your abilities and experience. 

• Stock Options 

• Medical, Vision and Dental 

• Unlimited Vacation Days 

• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 

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 that they have the skills and the passion necessary to succeed here to apply for this role. 

This position may require the candidate to deal with commodities, software, technology, defense articles, and/or technical data which are subject to the Export Administration Regulations and/or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Additional information may be requested so as to determine whether export authorization is required from the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. If authorization is required, employment will be contingent upon the Company successfully obtaining such authorization from the relevant government agency. 

Urban Sky is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.