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 seeking a Senior Vehicle Structures Engineer to support hypersonic and advanced vehicle programs.
Ursa Major’s teams move fast and does a lot with little. We are looking for a skilled, fast learning individual who will serve as a central member of member of the team and take immediate ownership of their system as a responsible engineer. This role focuses on the structural design, analysis, and integration of vehicle airframe and propulsion-adjacent structures operating in extreme environments. The ideal candidate will be comfortable moving quickly from concept through flight hardware while collaborating closely with customers and internal engineering teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Clean sheet design and analysis of fluid & mechanical vehicle components including tanks, feed systems, propellant management, and fluid systems
- Support rapid development cycles of new designs and changing requirements including testing, data analysis and hands-on hardware work
- Design modifications of existing components and prototypes to increase performance, improve manufacturability or resolve limitations
- Collaborate with the manufacturing, analysis, and test teams to reduce part-to-part variation and discrepancies
- Assemble and test first article prototypes
- Design and develop primary and secondary vehicle structures for hypersonic and advanced flight vehicles
- Perform structural sizing, trade studies, and margin assessments across vehicle and propulsion-integrated structures
- Conduct structural analysis including static, dynamic, vibration, and coupled loads environments
- Support thermal-structural interactions in high-temperature flight regimes
- Collaborate with propulsion, systems, thermal, and mission engineering teams to ensure proper structural integration
- Interface with customers and external partners during design reviews, technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and integrated product team (IPT) meetings
- Develop and manage structural requirements and verification plans
- Support manufacturing through design for manufacturability (DFM) and producibility considerations
- Support test planning and execution, including ground and flight test structural support
- Participate in failure investigations, nonconformance resolution, and continuous design improvement
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
- 5+ years of experience in vehicle structures or airframe engineering
- Experience supporting hypersonic, missile, space, or high-performance aerospace vehicles
- Strong fundamentals in:
- Structural mechanics and materials
- Loads and environments
- Structural margins and safety factors
- Demonstrated proficiency with computer aided design and drafting
- Experience with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing per ASME Y14.5
- Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) tools (e.g., NASTRAN, Abaqus, ANSYS)
- Working knowledge of and hands-on experience with fluid, mechanical, and electrical systems
- Strong understanding of 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
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, hardware-focused environment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering
- Familiarity with high-temperature materials, composites, and metallic structures
- Experience with hypersonic loads, aero-thermal environments, and TPS integration
- Experience supporting flight test or demonstration vehicles
- Experience with model-based engineering or digital thread tools
- Knowledge of propulsion-adjacent structures (motor cases, mounts, skirts, thrust structures)
- Experience in design and analysis of fluids systems
- Experience operating in ISO 9001 or AS9100 certified organizations
- Experience with SMC-S-016 Test Requirements
- Demonstrated proficiency with fundamental manual or CNC machining equipment and processes (milling, turning)
- Experience with fluids, structural and thermal analysis using Ansys software
- 3+ years of PTC Creo or Siemens NX CAD programs and Windchill PLM software
- Liquid propellant rocket engine design, test, or analysis
Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $125,000 - $155,000, 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. Click here for more information about our awesome benefits.
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.
Top Skills
What the Team is Saying
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.
