Lead, Technician

Socket.dev; Berthoud (CO); On-site; USD 50,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Parental Leave

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

HSA/FSA

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

401k match

Equity

Job summary

Ursa Major in Colorado is seeking a Lead, Technician to serve as a hands-on technical lead for fast-paced propulsion development and manufacturing. You will execute development, build, rework, and test activities while mentoring a small team of technicians on the floor, ensuring safety, quality, and schedule adherence.

This role blends deep hands-on work with day-to-day technical leadership, communicating progress and risks to leadership, and driving continuous improvements across tools, setups,

Qualifications

• 4+ years of hands-on technician experience in development, manufacturing, test, or build operations.
• Ability to independently execute complex technical work.
• Experience mentoring or onboarding technicians in hands-on settings.
• Strong mechanical and/or electromechanical troubleshooting skills.

Responsibilities

• Execute development, build, rework, and test activities for propulsion hardware while prioritizing safety, quality, schedule, and execution.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and process-related issues in real time using drawings and specs.
• Adapt to evolving requirements and clearly communicate progress, risks, and blockers to leadership.
• Lead and mentor a small team of technicians with hands-on instruction and feedback.
• Drive process and execution improvements for tools, setups, workflows, and documentation.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, and leadership to align priorities and support program milestones.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Hands-on technician

Troubleshooting

Mentoring

Communication under pressure

Fast-paced environment

Job description

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.

The Lead, Technician is a hands-on technical lead responsible for executing fast-paced development and build work while leading a small tactical team of technicians. This role serves as the primary execution owner for assigned development efforts, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and to engineering intent.

This position is a working technical lead, combining deep hands-on execution with day-to-day technical leadership. The Lead, Technician drives progress through direct involvement, real-time problem solving, and on-the-floor mentorship in dynamic development environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute development, build, rework, and test activities supporting SMS hardware manufacturing while maintaining strong focus on safety, quality, schedule, and execution.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and process-related issues in real time while interpreting engineering drawings, procedures, and specifications to ensure accurate execution.
• Adapt quickly to evolving requirements and priorities, proactively communicating progress, risks, blockers, and execution status to leadership.
• Lead and mentor a small team of technicians by providing hands-on instruction, real-time feedback, and technical guidance to maintain momentum and execution quality.
• Drive process and execution improvements by identifying practical enhancements to tools, setups, workflows, and documentation while supporting continuous improvement initiatives.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, and leadership to align priorities, resolve technical and schedule risks, and support successful program execution.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of hands-on technician experience in development, manufacturing, test, or build operations
• Demonstrated ability to independently execute complex technical work
• Experience training, mentoring, or onboarding technicians in hands-on settings
• Strong mechanical and/or electromechanical troubleshooting skills
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous development environments
• Clear and effective communication skills, especially under schedule pressure

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting early-stage development, prototype, or rapid-iteration builds
• Experience leading work and directing other technicians in an execution-focused environment
• Background in aerospace, propulsion, or other complex hardware systems
• Familiarity with test operations, rework, and non-standard build activities

Working Conditions

• Primarily based in a manufacturing, development, and test environment with frequent hands-on work involving propulsion hardware, tools, test equipment, and production systems.
• Requires standing, walking, bending, reaching, climbing, and lifting up to 50 pounds, as well as the use of required personal protective equipment (PPE) while working around mechanical, electrical, and test operations.
• May require extended hours, shift flexibility, and occasional weekend work to support critical development builds, testing activities, troubleshooting efforts, and program milestones in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $36.45 - $45.60 hourly, 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 Non-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

Must be a U.S. Person (this includes U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents).

Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.

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.