Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Energetics

Ursa Major; Berthoud (CO); On-site; USD 88,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Parental leave

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

HSA/FSA

Disability, Life/AD&D

Job summary

Ursa Major, a leader in propulsion systems, is seeking a Senior Development Energetics Manufacturing Engineer to bridge design and production for solid rocket motors (SRMs). You will own critical manufacturing processes from concept through deployment on the production floor and serve as the SME for your area.

This hands-on role emphasizes capital equipment, automation, process design, and collaboration with Design Engineering to optimize manufacturability, safety, and production rate.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering or related field.
• 6+ years in a manufacturing engineering role deploying new production processes.
• Experience leading capital equipment projects including spec development, sourcing, and installation/commissioning.
• Hands-on SME on the production floor with safety-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Own designated manufacturing processes (e.g., propellant mixing, curing, final SRM assembly).
• Design, develop, and validate new processes and equipment to meet specs, safety standards, and production rate requirements.
• Lead sourcing and machine design; manage external vendors for custom machines and tooling.
• Act as SME; work hands-on to support development and flight hardware; document SOPs and maintenance needs.
• Drive Lean/Six Sigma improvements to safety, quality, and efficiency.

Skills

3D CAD

Project management

GD&T

Lean manufacturing

Education

B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Siemens NX

CATIA

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 is developing cutting-edge propulsion systems and is seeking an innovative and hands-on Senior Development Energetics Manufacturing Engineer. This role is pivotal in bridging the gap between design and production by creating, implementing, and optimizing the manufacturing processes for solid rocket motors (SRMs). The engineer in this role will be the designatedProcess Owner for a critical section of the SRM build process. They will be responsible for the entire development lifecycle of their assigned processes, from initial concept and sourcing to machine design, fabrication, and final deployment on the production floor. This individual will serve as the primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for their processes, actively participating in motor builds to ensure processes are robust, repeatable, and capable.

We are looking for an engineer with a strong background in capital equipment, automation, and process design, ideally with experience in energetics processing.

Key Responsibilities

• Process Ownership & Development:
  • Take complete ownership of a designated manufacturing process (e.g., propellant mixing, propellant curing, final assembly of SRM).
  • Design, develop, and validate new manufacturing processes and equipment to meet design specifications, safety standards, and production rate requirements.
  • Create detailed equipment specifications, statements of work (SOW), and test plans for new machinery.
• Sourcing & Machine Design:
  • Lead the sourcing and procurement of complex capital equipment. This includes identifying and evaluating external machine builders and automation suppliers.
  • Lead internal design efforts and manage external vendors for custom manufacturing machines, tooling, and fixtures.
  • Manage projects from procurement through installation, conducting site acceptance (SAT) and factory acceptance (FAT) testing.
• Hands-on Implementation & SME Support:
  • Act as the lead Subject Matter Expert (SME) for your assigned processes.
  • Work hands-on with technicians and other engineers on the production floor to build development and flight hardware, providing real-time support and process refinement.
  • Develop and qualify processes, establishing critical process parameters and controls.
  • Author and maintain comprehensive documentation, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and maintenance requirements.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Lead analysis of build data, non-conformances, and operator feedback to identify root causes and implement robust corrective actions.
  • Drive continuous improvement (Lean, 6-Sigma) initiatives to improve safety, quality, efficiency, and cost for your process area.
• Collaborate closely with Design Engineering (DFM/A) to ensure new motor designs are optimized for manufacturability.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of 6 years of experience in a manufacturing engineering role, developing and deploying new production processes and equipment.
  • Proven experience leading capital equipment projects, including specification development, sourcing, and installation/commissioning.
  • Demonstrated ability to serve as a hands-on SME, working directly on the production floor.
  • Willingness to work hands-on in a production environment with strict safety controls.
• Skills:
  • Strong proficiency in 3D CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Siemens NX, CATIA) for tooling and fixture design.
  • Excellent project management skills.
  • Strong understanding of GD&T and blueprint interpretation.
  • Ability to rapidly learn and become the subject matter expert in a new process area.

Desired Qualifications

• Industry Experience: Previous experience in the aerospace, defense, or energetics industry, specifically with solid rocket motor manufacturing (insulation, propellant, case winding, etc.).
• Familiarity with relevant codes and regulations (e.g., OSHA, NFPA, ATF, DoD or aerospace standards).
• Experience with Statistical Process Control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), and process capability analysis.
• Background in process scale-up, equipment commissioning, or technology transfer from R&D to production.
• Experience with ERP/MES systems and digital work instructions/batch records.
• Lean manufacturing or Six Sigma experience/certification.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $88,000 - $130,000, 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.

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

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.

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.