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.
Ursa Major’s teams innovate fast while applying appropriate rigor in developing world class industry leading products. We accelerate your career and provide an environment where you can see the results of your efforts two to three times faster than traditional companies. We are looking for a skilled, fast-learning individual who will serve as a central member of the team and take immediate ownership of rocket engine design efforts as a responsible engineer.
This role will be part of the technical organization, responsible for clean sheet system design, development, qualification, and flight of a variety of propulsion hardware, as well as technical guidance and mentoring of a team responsible for engine hardware. Candidates will be expected to have ownership from the initial concept phase to a production-ready design.
Responsibilities:
- Lead and manage the team of engineers working to design, build, test and fly a family of Hypersonic engines. This role involves both their day-to-day management as well as their longer term career development and growth.
- Own the family of Hypersonic engines from a technical, schedule, cost, and future capability roadmap perspective to ensure the engine is ready to power the next generation of hypersonic vehicles.
- Ensure your Responsible Engineers have all the right tools and skills to succeed in executing their programs while providing guidance, mentoring, and a motivating vision for the teams.
- Own and monitor the development, introduction to operations, development test, qualification, customer interface and flight readiness process for hypersonic engine programs so your Responsible Engineers have an achievable execution map to follow based upon the tools available, the high degree of rigor that ensures success, and complies with our quality policy.
- Hire, staff, and mentor the hypersonic engine team with people who embrace Ursa Major’s values, go-fast culture, and embody strong ownership of their designs and personal skill development while embracing collaboration, technical challenges, and drive for continuous improvement.
- Be willing to role up your sleeves and lend technical and leadership assistance when required.
- Create a culture within your team where everyone knows what success looks like, how they contribute to the success of programs, and they feel appreciated and recognized for their contribution to success.
- Set high expectations of excellence for yourself and your team and mentor your team to achieve it. Push all teams to innovate wherever possible.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering
- 5+ years of relevant mechanical design experience
- Demonstrated understanding of computer aided design and drafting
- Experience with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing per ASME Y14.5
- Working knowledge of and hands-on experience with fluid, mechanical, and electrical systems
- Strong understanding of aerospace and defense industry standards and requirements
- Desire to take ownership and help wherever needed on the team
- Able to delegate tasks and lead large project scope
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and stay flexible based on customer demands and company priorities along with daily firefighting
- Either proven people / project leadership experience or a willingness to invest heavily in developing those skills quickly and thoughtfully
Desired Experience
- Liquid propellant rocket engine design, test, or analysis
- Prior track record leading technical teams
- Demonstrated proficiency with basic principles of design for additive manufacturing
- Solid understanding of both development and production manufacturing processes (machining, assembly etc), environments and challenges.
- Familiarity with closed cycle rocket engines
- Experience operating in ISO 9001 or AS9100 certified organizations
- Experience with SMC-S-016 Test Requirements
- Experience with structural, fluids, and thermal analysis using Ansys FEA software
- Experience with Siemens NX CAD program and Windchill PLM software
- Master's or PhD in mechanical or aerospace engineering
- Component testing and validation experience in both low and high energy states
- Direct experience with flight qualification and flight support
Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $155,000 - $190,000, 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
- Equity Grants in the Company
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.
What the Team is Saying
Ursa Major Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials outline comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D, and short‑term disability coverage. Third‑party profiles also note mental health benefits and FSA availability.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Policies include unlimited PTO, paid holidays, and two company‑wide shutdown weeks in July and at year‑end. Paid maternity, paternity, and adoptive leave are explicitly offered.
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Retirement Support — Current materials state traditional and Roth 401(k) with company match. This signals strengthened retirement support relative to earlier practices.
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.
