Senior Mission Engineer

Ursa Major; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Parental leave

Medical/Dental/Vision

HSA/FSA

Disability & Life

Equity grants

401k with company match

EAP program

Job summary

Ursa Major is seeking a Senior Mission Engineer to lead external success of SRM products and manage flight campaigns, motor qualification tests, and energetic material testing. You will engage with external partners and DoD programs, ensuring safety, schedule, and performance meet customer needs.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering and 4+ years in mission operations or related fields, with up to 50% travel.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• 4+ years of mission operations, test engineering, or similar experience.
• Willing to travel up to 50% for multi-week test and flight campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary contact between Ursa Major and the customer program manager/flight test lead.
• Shape test objectives, oversee execution, interpret results, and communicate insights to customers.
• Ensure test plans and hardware work instructions are followed per program and range SOPs.
• Track mission objectives and milestones; assist in technical validation throughout the program life cycle.
• Support complex motor/engine operations including stand readiness, checkouts, instrumentation, diagnostics.
• Develop internal qualification test plans that meet the program qualification plan and system requirements.
• Coordinate data submission with SRM safety for hazardous shipping documentation and approvals.
• Operate launcher platforms and understand ignition chain interactions within systems.
• Assist energetics team with testing of energetic materials on and offsite.

Skills

Mission operations

Test engineering

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Electrical systems

Fluid systems

Mechanical systems

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

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 Senior Mission Engineer will lead the external success of SRM products that leave the Ursa Major campus (or other sub campuses). As a Mission Engineer, you will be planning and executing flight campaigns, motor qualification campaigns, offsite energetic material testing, motor integration, verification, and validation (IV&V). To support these missions, you will interface with various external industry partners, conducting hot fire motor/engine tests, participate in data reviews, support troubleshooting efforts related to motor/engine tests, drive rocket motor/engine test campaign success, and interface with all relevant internal disciplines to bring those expertise into the field all while advocating and protecting the Ursa Major brand and reputation when conducting operations in the field.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as point of contact between Ursa Major and customer program manager/flight test lead
• Shape test objectives, oversee execution, interpret results, comply with test range requirements and communicate clear technical insights to customers
• Ensure execution of and compliance with test plans, qualification requirements and hardware work instructions developed by Ursa Major and customers while complying with external test range SOPs
• Generate and track program mission objectives/milestones and assist in the technical validation of program milestones and adherence of those objectives throughout the program lifecycle
• Support complex motor/engine operations, including test stand readiness, system checkouts, instrumentation troubleshooting, and field diagnostics
• Generate internal qualification test plans/procedures that follow the program qualification plan and comply with systems engineering to satisfy product requirements
• Obtain and provide data to SRM safety team for the generation of hazardous shipping documentation of SRM products (i.e.: IHC, FHC, EX) and facilitate the submission process
• Operate and modify launcher platform systems and understand how systems interact with ignition chain of motor/engine
• Support and assist the energetics team in the handling, planning, and execution of testing both on and offsite in support of energetic material classification testing
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• 4+ years of mission operations, test engineer, or other relevant experience
• Ability to earn trust, build rapport and maintain positive and professional relationships with cross-functional stakeholders and customers
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced development environment
• Working knowledge of and hands-on experience with electrical, fluid, and mechanical systems
• Willing to spend up to 50% of the year on travel for multi-week test and flight campaigns

Desired Experience

• Master’s degree in a relevant technical discipline
• Experience interfacing with DoD programs and partners
• Experience with hazardous operations and system safety
• Experience with qualification efforts on aerospace systems or DoD platforms
• SRM or other propulsion system design, development, or test
• Technical expertise in liquid and/or solid rocket motor/engine manufacturing, integration, or test
• Ability to be eligible and maintain eligibility for a Secret Clearance

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $120,000 - $150,000, 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.

No outside recruiters, please.