Senior Conceptual Design Engineer, Solid Rocket Motors

Ursa Major; Berthoud (CO); On-site; USD 106,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Parental and adoptive leave

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401k with company match

HSA/FSA

Job summary

Ursa Major seeks a Senior Conceptual Design Engineer in Solid Missile Systems to lead the preliminary design trades for solid rocket motor primary structures and performance. You will translate customer requirements into cost‑effective, reliable conceptual designs while coordinating with experts across engineering teams.

The role supports business development with feasibility studies, white papers, and proposals, mentoring junior staff and ensuring compliance with internal standards and ASME

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering or related field with 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience with rocket motors, solid propulsion elements, and structural interfaces.
• Proficiency with CAD and analysis tools.
• Strong understanding of design for additive manufacturing (materials and metal AM processes).
• Solid fundamentals in thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and structural mechanics; knowledge of insulation/nozzle materials.

Responsibilities

• Conduct preliminary design trades for solid rocket motor primary structures and performance.
• Translate customer requirements into conceptual designs meeting Ursa Major criteria for cost and reliability.
• Lead cross‑functional communications to ensure designs satisfy stakeholders’ needs (performance, cost, manufacturability).
• Generate, review, and approve CAD models and drawings aligned with ASME Y14.5-2009.
• Maintain design documentation including reviews and customer docs.

Skills

CAD proficiency

Strong engineering fundamentals

Cross-functional collaboration

Effective communication

Thermodynamics & fluid dynamics

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering

Master’s degree (desired)

Tools

Siemens NX

Ansys

MATLAB

Python

C++/Fortran

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.

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 Senior Conceptual Design Engineer, Solid Missile Systems, is responsible for the preliminary design trades of solid rocket motor primary structures and performance based on customer requirements and industry specifications. The analyst supports Business Development in preliminary evaluation and design solutions for new business to determine feasibility of potential new products.

Responsibilities:

Clean sheet design of novel solid rocket motors with limited guidance from subject matter experts.

Distill customer requirements into a conceptual design that meets or exceeds the intent while adhering to the Ursa Major criteria for low-cost yet reliable products. Also, support customer interactions when requested.

Support New Product Development and Business Development teams in generation of White papers, proposals and design concept feasibility studies.

Lead cross-functional communications to ensure conceptual designs satisfy the needs of each stakeholder, including performance, cost and manufacturability.

Generate, review, and approve CAD models and drawings that are consistent with internal best practices and ASME Y14.5-2009

Maintain proper documentation of all designs including design reviews, , customer documentation, etc.

Technical mentor for less senior members of the team.

Author guidance on design best practices and supporting formal documentation as required.

Work with ballisticians, thermal and other analysts to ensure the latest models and properties are being utilized.

Organize/prepare/present major program efforts and findings to internal and external customers, including government and commercial entities

Other duties as assigned.

Support other design activities, including peer reviews as demand necessitates.

Other activities as required to support the growing business.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field with 5+ years of relevant experience.

Relevant experience with rocket motors, solid propulsion elements, and structural interfaces.

Proficiency with computer-aided design and analysis tools.

Strong understanding of design for additive manufacturing including material and design limitations of metal additive processes.

Strong engineering fundamentals including in-depth knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and structural mechanics. Understanding of thermal and ablative properties of internal insulator and nozzle materials

Effective communication skills are crucial for collaborating with cross-functional teams, presenting design concepts, and documenting work.

This position requires that the employee be eligible and maintain eligibility for a Secret Clearance.

Desired Experience:

Master’s degree in a technical discipline such as mechanical or aerospace engineering.

Hands-on experience supporting rapid product development.

Experience designing hardware for high-rate production including automated processes.

Familiarity with composite overwrap and filament winding design and analysis.

Experience with Siemen’s NX and Ansys software packages.

DoD Secret Security Clearance or higher. Proficiency in CLWire, SPP, or similar ballistic analysis tools

Proficiency in Matlab, Python, C++, Fortran, or similar programming languages

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $105,840 - $132,300, 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 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

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.