Senior Test Engineer, Solid Missile Systems

Ursa Major is redefining how solid rocket motors are developed, tested, and delivered for modern defense applications. As we expand into this critical domain, we're building a high-accountability team that challenges decades of stagnation in solid propulsion. This is not legacy aerospace—this is hands-on engineering in a dynamic, high-stakes test environment where leadership, decision-making, and technical mastery matter.

As a Senior Test Engineer on our Solid Rocket Motor team, you’ll not only lead the design and execution of static fires, risk buy down, and flight readiness campaigns, but also contribute to the tactics, development roadmap, and improvement of test systems for scalability. You’ll mentor junior engineers, drive cross-functional engineering initiatives, and act as a technical authority in the development of test infrastructure and test campaigns. If you're a builder, an innovator, and excel at bringing clarity to complex systems under tight timelines, this is your opportunity to set the bar for innovation in solid rocket propulsion testing at Ursa Major.

Key Responsibilities

Comprehensive Test Leadership

• Develop and execute large-scale, program-critical test plans and readiness reviews, ensuring alignment with company and program objectives.
• Own and oversee static fire campaigns, including system activation, validation, real-time test operation leadership, and anomaly resolution across multiple test programs.
• Take ownership of delivering useful, decision-ready test data that enables rapid design iteration and risk reduction.
• Own test risk assessments and readiness criteria, ensuring safety and technical risks are clearly communicated and escalated with mitigation options when needed.

Test Architecture & Continuous Improvement

• Design and refine scalable test setups, systems, and infrastructure to dynamically support multiple programs ranging from R&D to supporting production-level qualification.
• Own the end-to-end implementation of new instrumentation, fixtures, and test stand capabilities, delivering step-change gains in test safety, efficiency, accuracy, and fidelity.
• Lead failure investigations on test stand anomalies, drive root-cause identification, and implement corrective actions.

Safety, Compliance, and Operational Excellence

• Ensure stringent compliance with safety standards and explosive handling protocols, including assessing and mitigating risks for new test infrastructure and methodologies.
• Own test range safety analysis for SRM testing, including overpressure, fragmentation and environmental hazard arcs.
• Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) regarding hazardous materials test operations.
• Lead efforts to enhance safety culture and develop training protocols for new members.

Cross-Functional Leadership and Mentorship

• Drive collaboration with engineering, program management, and production teams to ensure test systems and data enable successful design iterations, risk buy down, and flight readiness.
• Own post-test analysis including motor teardown, hardware inspections, instrumentation health assessments, and integration of lessons learned into system upgrades.
• Mentor junior engineers, training them in test methodology, equipment design, and data analysis to foster technical growth across the team.
• Contribute to long-term test infrastructure planning, including budgeting, site expansion, and capital improvement projects.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering (or related engineering discipline).
• 4+ Years of professional experience in rocket testing, test operations, or similar fast paced hardware development environments (applicable internships, rocket clubs or lab projects qualify).

• Strong working knowledge of hazardous systems (e.g., energetic systems, cryogenics, or high-pressure fluids).
• Proven ability to design and lead test campaigns from scratch—emphasizing safety, accuracy, and repeatability.

• Ability to obtain explosive permits from the ATF and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

• This position requires the employee to be eligible for a Secret Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• 7+ years experience in propulsion or hardware testing, including structures, explosives, solid rocket motor or high-pressure fluid systems.

• Extensive experience coordinating complex projects, including multi-disciplinary cross-functional test initiatives.

• Experience designing and troubleshooting high-pressure fluid systems, structural components, instrumentation, and high-speed data acquisition packages and using 3D CAD software (NX, Inventor, CATIA, SolidWorks).

• Demonstrated ingenuity in creating and scaling novel test setups under challenging constraints, including high levels of ambiguity and urgency.

• Active or previously held Secret-level security clearance preferred.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Willingness to work in test facility environments with exposure to loud noises, hazardous materials, and outdoor conditions including hands-on troubleshooting.
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs and operate hand tools and mechanical equipment as needed.
• Occasional off-shift or weekend test operations as dictated by campaign schedules, including off-site testing depending on program need.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is an annual salary of $108,000 - $133,000, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The salary range for this role is intentionally wide as we are evaluating individuals based on their unique experience and abilities to fit our needs. Most importantly, we are excited to meet you, and see if you are a great fit for our team. What we can’t quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy.