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.
Ursa Major is seeking a dynamic and experienced Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) leader to join our leadership team in Berthoud, Colorado. This individual will oversee all aspects of the SRM product line, ensuring the strategic growth and operational excellence of this critical business unit. The VP will be responsible for driving year-over-year scaling of the product line, making key strategic decisions, and leading a cross-functional team to meet our ambitious growth targets.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leadership & Strategy: Provide visionary leadership for the SRM product line, developing and executing strategies that drive significant growth and scaling year over year.
- Operational Excellence: Oversee development of SRM production and operations, ensuring compliance, efficiency, quality, and safety in all processes. Identify opportunities for process improvement and cost reduction while maintaining the highest standards of product reliability.
- Team Development: Provide direction to the SRM Engineering Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead, program managers, and operations staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture. Develop talent and succession plans to support the scaling of the product line.
- Technical Oversight: Leverage technical expertise in solid rocket motors to guide product development, production improvements, and troubleshooting. Ensure that the product line remains competitive and meets or exceeds customer expectations.
- Business Development: Work closely with the business development team to secure new contracts with government and commercial customers. Build strong relationships with key stakeholders and decision-makers in the aerospace and defense industry.
- Customer Engagement: Serve as the primary point of contact for customers regarding the SRM product line, ensuring that customer needs are met, and fostering long-term partnerships.
- Budget & P&L Management: Oversee the SRM product line’s budget and financial performance, ensuring profitability and responsible management of resources.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Business, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
- 15+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or a related field, with a focus on solid rocket motors or propulsion systems.
- Proven track record of scaling product lines and leading cross-functional teams to achieve ambitious growth targets.
- Strong technical aptitude in solid rocket motors, with the ability to engage with engineering and technical teams.
- Demonstrated success in winning program of record contracts with government agencies and commercial customers.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to influence and inspire a diverse team.
- Experience managing budgets and overseeing P&L for a product line.
Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $200,000 - $260,000, 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.
Benefits Include:
- 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 - Traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k)
- Equity Grants in the Company
NOTE: Research suggests that women and BIPOC individuals may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who believes they have the skills and the drive necessary to succeed here to apply for this role.
US CITIZENSHIP, PERMANENT RESIDENCY, REFUGEE OR ASYLUM STATUS IS REQUIRED.
We’re an equal-opportunity employer. You will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.
No outside recruiters, please.
Top Skills
What the Team is Saying
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What We Do
At Ursa Major, we are powering the future of aerospace. We see aerospace advancement as a technological imperative and we’re accelerating the industry as the leading source of world-class propulsion systems.
We meticulously design, craft, and test engines that are optimized to offer high performance, diverse capability, and unwavering reliability.
Why Work With Us
As much as we value talent, we know that it’s meaningless without the drive, humility, and hunger to work on a team. A team shares a common goal and obsesses about achieving it together. This requires leaving egos at the door and committing to do whatever’s required (within reason) to achieve mission success.
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Ursa Major Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
