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.
As a Loads and Dynamics Analyst II you will train, under the L&D lead, on loads development across multiple motors in support of various vehicles, all-up-rounds, and propulsion systems. This will include assessment of nonconforming hardware and introduction of processes, practices, and approaches that improve organizational efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform loads development for motor and vehicle programs
- Perform load spectrum development for service life assessment
- Assess motor performance under dynamic loads such as random vibration and shock
- Perform component and system level dynamics analysis
- Develop, verify, and validate structural models
- Work closely with test teams; identify test activities and instrumentation necessary to anchor analytical models
- Propagate loads to vehicle and motor components
- Collaborate with the manufacturing team to assess nonconforming hardware for development and flight components and provide recommended dispositions and repairs
Required Qualifications
- B.S. degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a comparable field
- 2+ years of experience performing structural analysis
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment
- Experience in dynamic analysis methods (structural dynamics, dynamic loads, acoustics, modal, random and sine vibration, and shock response)
- Experience in loads development for vehicle and/or motor applications
- Experience anchoring analytical models to physical testing
Preferred Qualifications
- M.S. degree or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, or a comparable field, ideally focusing on solid mechanics, fatigue, fracture, or structural dynamics
- GFEM development and model grounding experience
- Low Cycle Fatigue Analysis (LCF, crack initiation predicted by a strain-life/e-N approach)
- Experience performing Finite Element Analysis (FEA/FEM) using commercial codes (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus, or NASTRAN-based solvers)
- Experience with Femap/Nastran
- Experience taking components through dynamic acceptance and qualification testing
- A strong theoretical background in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and/or compressible flow
- Thermal-Structural static analysis experience particularly dealing with nonlinear materials and large strains
Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $87,000 - $109,000, 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
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a comparable field
- 2 or more years of experience performing structural analysis
- Experience with dynamic analysis methods, including structural dynamics, dynamic loads, acoustics, modal analysis, random and sine vibration, and shock response
- Experience developing loads for vehicle and/or motor applications
- Experience anchoring analytical models to physical testing
- Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment
- Must be a U.S. Person, including a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance
- Master's degree or higher in mechanical, aerospace engineering, or a comparable field, preferably focused on solid mechanics, fatigue, fracture, or structural dynamics
- GFEM development and model grounding experience
- Low Cycle Fatigue analysis experience using strain-life/e-N methods
- Finite Element Analysis using commercial codes such as ANSYS, Abaqus, or NASTRAN-based solvers
- Femap/Nastran experience
- Experience taking components through dynamic acceptance and qualification testing
- Theoretical background in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and/or compressible flow
- Thermal-structural static analysis experience involving nonlinear materials and large strains
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.
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Ursa Major Offices
OnSite Workspace
Most employees work on-site with some positions allowing hybrid and/or remote work.
