Program Management Leader 6 - Major Structures

United Launch Alliance (ULA); Decatur (AL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Discretionary annual incentive bonus

Generous paid time off

Flexible work environments

Job summary

United Launch Alliance in Decatur, Alabama is seeking a Major Structures Engineering Leader to guide the engineering organization responsible for tank fabrication, welds, major structural assemblies, and composite structures.

The role partners with Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to align priorities, resolve technical issues, and drive production improvements while maintaining safety and certification integrity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field.
• 8+ years in engineering with 4+ years in leadership.
• Experience in aerospace or high-rate production environments.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead the engineering organization supporting tank fabrication, weld, major structural assemblies, and composite structures.
• Provide engineering leadership across hardware fabrication, inspection, acceptance, and certification.
• Partner with Operations and Quality to align priorities with production needs.
• Resolve technical issues affecting safety, cost, schedule, and certification.
• Drive continuous improvement and issue elimination.

Skills

Team leadership

Technical leadership

Communication skills

Production engineering

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

CAM knowledge

Job description

Requisition ID: 1867

Location: ULA - Decatur

Relocation: Yes- Relocation may be available

Travel Requirements: 10%

At ULA, success comes through the efforts of a strong, united team.

Thanks for your interest in United Launch Alliance, the world's most experienced and reliable space launch company! Successfully launching more than 155 consecutive missions with 100% mission success doesn't happen by accident. It's a testament to the commitment and dedication of our team of rocket scientists and support employees combined with the systems and processes we use to pull them together. As a ULA employee, you'll have the opportunity to grow in your career while working in a team-oriented culture that combines technology, innovation, ingenuity and a commitment to the extraordinary. Whether you are in college just launching your career, or, have experience and want to come work with the best rocket team in the world, our unshakable unity yields stronger solutions and better results as we carry out our mission to save lives, explore the universe, and connect the world. Our team is excited to meet you!

Job Overview & Responsibilities

The Major Structures Engineering Leader is responsible for leading the engineering organization supporting launch vehicle tank fabrication and weld, major structural assemblies, and composite structures. Located in Decatur, Alabama, this position provides engineering leadership across production support, technical issue resolution, hardware acceptance and certification, and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will lead a high-performing engineering organization focused on enabling safe, compliant, predictable, and efficient production. This leader will partner closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, and the broader engineering organization to resolve technical issues, improve hardware and process maturity, and support increasing production rates.

Responsibilities

• Lead the engineering organization supporting tank fabrication and weld, major structural assemblies, and composite structures.
• Provide engineering leadership and accountability throughout hardware fabrication, assembly, inspection, acceptance, and certification.
• Partner with Operations and Quality leadership to align engineering priorities, staffing, and execution with production needs and business objectives.
• Lead timely and disciplined resolution of technical issues affecting safety, quality, cost, schedule, and hardware certification.
• Integrate production support engineering, responsible engineering, analysis, materials and processes, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and other technical organizations to resolve complex issues.
• Drive recurring issue elimination and continuous improvement by identifying systemic production constraints and implementing product and process improvements.
• Ensure engineering changes, technical decisions, nonconformances, and open technical work are effectively managed while maintaining configuration and certification integrity.
• Establish and monitor organizational performance measures for engineering responsiveness, issue resolution, recurring defect reduction, and production continuity.
• Develop and execute organizational, staffing, talent development, and succession plans to support increasing production cadence and long-term technical capability.
• Foster a One Team culture across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program organizations with shared accountability for mission success and production execution.

Required Education

Bachelor

Required Years Of Experience

Please reference the Basic Qualification for minimum years of related work experience required

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience plus a minimum of 4 years of management or leadership experience of leading teams.
• Demonstrated technical leadership experience in the development, production, integration, or sustainment of complex aerospace or high-rate production environment.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and resolving complex technical issues.
• Experience working in a production or manufacturing environment and integrating engineering execution across Operations, Quality, and technical organizations.
• Experience with personnel management, including employee development, performance management, organizational planning, and talent development.
• Demonstrated ability to establish priorities and lead execution in an environment with competing technical, cost, and schedule demands.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with employees, peers, senior leadership, customers, and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with launch vehicle, spacecraft, aerospace, defense, or other complex high-reliability hardware production.
• Experience with large welded structures, pressure vessels, cryogenic tanks, major structural assemblies, composite structures, or related manufacturing processes.
• Experience with nonconformance review, technical disposition, root cause analysis, corrective action, and recurring defect elimination.
• Experience supporting hardware acceptance, product certification, flight readiness, or mission assurance activities.
• Program management skills, including cost and schedule management, risk management, resource planning, and business execution.
• CAM knowledge and experience.
• Experience developing and leading teams, including experience developing leads and leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve complex cross-organizational challenges and conflicts.

What makes ULA different?

Because we understand launch success comes through the collective efforts of a team, we seek the best to join us. We value ethics, ingenuity, engagement and professional development for employees at all levels.

We Offer Our Employees Competitive Pay And Benefits Including

• 401(k) match plus an additional employer contribution
• Discretionary annual incentive bonus for eligible employees
• Generous paid time off
• Flexible work environments

Additionally, most salaried ULA team members work a "9/80 schedule", meaning they enjoy every other Friday off.

Benefits and work schedules may vary for union-represented hourly positions and are described in the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Security Clearance / International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR)

This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). Therefore, all applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined in ITAR 22 CFR 120.62 (e.g., U.S. Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or protected individual. See 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) and 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) for additional information).

ULA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

ULA is a participant in the federal E-Verify Program

Posters in PDF format pertaining to this program can be accessed by clicking on the links identified below. E-Verify Participation poster ( English / Spanish ) and Right to Work Poster ( English / Spanish ).

Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act

requires covered employees to follow a post selection notification process. A hired candidate may opt out of this process by notifying the hiring manager in writing at the time the offer is accepted.