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 is currently looking to fill a role in propellant development for SRM systems. This call seeks an individual skilled in research and development to support analysis of solid rocket motor production materials. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with formulation or polymer chemistry as well as a strong commitment to safety and quality. This role involves assisting in the setup, operation, and maintenance of hazardous and technical process equipment designated for energetics processing. Individual will be trained to handle energetic/explosive materials. Additional work in expanding experimental development and analysis would be a bonus.
Key Responsibilities:
Program Support & Technical Execution
- Project Execution: Support energetics development programs by completing assigned technical tasks to ensure project milestones and schedules are met.
- Reporting: Prepare status updates for project leads and management on assigned tasks, tracking progress against technical and manufacturing goals.
Research, Development & Engineering
- Formulation & Testing: Assist in developmental formulation, mixing, casting, and testing of solid propellants to evaluate performance, shelf-life, and stability.
- Technical Growth: Apply foundational knowledge in energetic materials, chemical kinetics, and combustion to assist with technical tasks under senior guidance.
- Data Analysis: Process and analyze material property and test data to verify compliance with established performance requirements.
- Tool & Process Usage: Utilize standardized tools, protocols, and calculation templates to assist in propellant design and evaluation.
Manufacturing & Process Operations
- Scale-Up Support: Assist senior engineers in transitioning propellant formulations from laboratory mixing to production scale operations.
- Process Improvement: Participate in optimizing laboratory equipment and processing techniques to support safety, yield, and quality.
- Technical Documentation: Draft detailed test procedures, laboratory reports, design review materials, and manufacturing batch records.
Quality, Safety & Investigation
- Failure Analysis Support: Assist in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and fault tree evaluations for non-conformances and testing anomalies.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with cross functional teams to execute daily operations safely and effectively.
- Safety Adherence: Maintain active participation in hazard analyses, process safety reviews, and local safety audits.
Required Qualifications & Skills
- Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- Foundational Knowledge: 2+ years of experience or relevant coursework or laboratory experience involving energetic materials, polymers, chemical processing, or fluid mechanics.
- Problem Solving: Ability to follow engineering guidelines to break down assigned technical problems and execute systematic solutions.
- Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills for documenting technical work and presenting findings to team members.
- Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work productively within cross-functional engineering teams in a fast-paced environment.
- Safety Mindset: Unwavering commitment to safety protocols required when working with and handling hazardous energetic materials.
Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $90,000 - $112,000, 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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
- 2+ years of experience, relevant coursework, or laboratory experience involving energetic materials, polymers, chemical processing, or fluid mechanics
- Foundational knowledge of energetic materials, chemical kinetics, and combustion
- Ability to follow engineering guidelines and systematically solve assigned technical problems
- Strong verbal and written communication skills for documenting technical work and presenting findings
- Ability to work productively within cross-functional engineering teams in a fast-paced environment
- Commitment to safety protocols for handling hazardous energetic materials
- 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 structured with an unlimited PTO policy plus two companywide paid breaks (mid‑summer and year‑end), creating predictable downtime alongside flexibility. Company holidays and shutdowns are consistently highlighted across employer materials and third‑party profiles.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive, including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life/AD&D, and short‑term disability, with mental‑health resources also noted. These elements appear on the company’s careers page and are echoed by external listings.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental and adoptive leave are emphasized, alongside family supports such as an onsite Mother’s Room and company‑sponsored family events. External profiles characterize the parental offering as generous.
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.
