The future of aerospace and defense starts here.
Ursa Major was founded to revolutionize how America and its allies access and apply high-performance propulsion, from hypersonics to solid rocket motors, satellite maneuvering and launch. We design and deliver propulsion and defense systems that solve the most urgent and critical national security demands.
Overview:
Ursa is seeking a strong production leader who can lead and build a team to scale production with a focus on safety and best-in-class industrial engineering principles. Ursa has developed a novel manufacturing method that can surge production levels across various products, employing mixed model strategy and early design for manufacturability. This position will heavily influence the standardization and scaling of these production lines. We are seeking a leader who can transform this manufacturing method into high volume (25,000+ units per year in SMS and 500 units we year for HAVOC).
Our operations team is involved with early conceptual designs through high-rate production of motors. This leader will demonstrate a track record of collaborating on scaled production and a desire to implement standards and change. The role will lead the manufacturing operations and industrial engineering teams, our build and mixing operations, logistics, and facilities. Demonstrated performance in this role will lead to operational ownership of additional product lines at the company beyond just solids. This is a high growth role.
Success will be defined by the safe scaling of our products and how well we can exceed customer expectations on quality and cost. This leader must have a start-up mentality with the rigor of real production.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and build the production team to scale manufacturing from conceptual design through high-rate production, focusing on safety, quality, and efficiency.
- Build high performing engineering teams, including industrial engineering and manufacturing engineering.
- Lead and grow shop floor teams. Drive cross training, efficient operations, and sustained growth.
- Set standards for capacity modeling, manufacturing scaling, and industrial engineering across Ursa Major
- Engage and influence ERP and MES deployment strategy in support of scalability.
- Implement and refine our novel manufacturing method to meet varying customer demand profiles while ensuring responsiveness and flexibility in production.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that ensure industry-leading safety and quality standards.
- Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate production requirements from the early design phase through to full-scale manufacturing.
- Collaborate the facilities and logistics to support both development activities and high-volume production, ensuring seamless operation of manufacturing =
- Foster a culture of operational excellence and innovation within the production teams.
- Define and track key performance metrics and daily production metrics to track production performance, cost control, and quality assurance, ensuring goals are met or exceeded.
Qualifications:
- 6+ years of experience in scaled production, preferably in aerospace, defense, or related industries.
- Proven track record in leading large-scale, high-volume manufacturing operations, with a focus on safety, quality, and cost-efficiency.
- Experience in manufacturing of energetics or other safety-critical products is highly desirable.
- Strong leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to motivate cross-functional teams in a high-growth, fast-paced environment.
- Exceptional problem-solving and process optimization skills, with a track record of implementing innovative production methods.
- Ability to navigate complex supply chains and develop strong supplier partnerships.
- Experience working with government and defense customers
- Start-up mentality combined with the rigor and discipline needed for high-volume, real-world production.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $180,000 - $220,000, 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.
Classification: Full-time Exempt
Benefits Include: (Please note, Interns are not eligible for benefits)
- 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 - 401k with Company Match
How To Apply:
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by filling out the application below and clicking "Submit Application". This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will remain open until filled or adjusted based on the volume of applicants.
Skills Required
- 6+ years of experience in scaled production, preferably in aerospace, defense, or related industries
- Proven experience leading large-scale, high-volume manufacturing operations focused on safety, quality, and cost efficiency
- Experience manufacturing energetics or other safety-critical products
- Strong leadership and team-building skills in a high-growth, fast-paced environment
- Exceptional problem-solving and process optimization skills, including implementation of innovative production methods
- Ability to navigate complex supply chains and develop strong supplier partnerships
- Experience working with government and defense customers
- Startup mentality combined with rigor and discipline for high-volume production
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, or a related field
- Advanced degree
- Must be a U.S. Person, including U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
- Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance
What the Team is Saying
Ursa Major Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off is broad, combining unlimited PTO with two company‑wide shutdown weeks in July and at year‑end that help ensure employees disconnect.
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Healthcare Strength — Core coverage appears comprehensive, with medical, dental, and vision plus HSA/FSA, employer‑paid disability, life, AD&D, and EAP; some listings also cite optional add‑ons such as pet insurance.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental and adoptive leave is highlighted across official and third‑party materials as a notable strength.
Ursa Major Insights
What We Do
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.
Why Work With Us
We believe that each unique team member fuels the creativity necessary to build the world’s best propulsion systems. This is realized as a deeply held commitment to celebrating individuality, hiring talent across all backgrounds and experiences, building a culture of inclusion, and constantly challenging ourselves to improve.
Gallery
Ursa Major Offices
OnSite Workspace
Most employees work on-site with some positions allowing hybrid and/or remote work.
