Staff Design Engineer – Solid Missile Systems

Ursa Major; Berthoud (CO); On-site; USD 145,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Parental and adoptive leave

Medical, dental and vision insurance

HSA/FSA

Disability and life insurance

Voluntary life and emergency medical |

EAP program

401k with company match

Equity grants

Job summary

Ursa Major is seeking a Staff Designer to design, analyze, and qualify solid rocket motor primary and secondary structures for national-security propulsion systems. The role emphasizes metal additive design, high-rate production, and scalable manufacturing processes.

The ideal candidate brings a 7+ year background in propulsion, CAD/analysis proficiency, NX/ANSYS skills, and the ability to guide prototype testing and documentation while maintaining tight collaboration with cross-functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering with 7 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with rocket motors, solid propulsion elements, and structural interfaces.
• Proficiency with CAD and analysis tools.
• Strong understanding of additive manufacturing including metal processes.
• Strong fundamentals in thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and structural mechanics.
• Excellent communication for cross-functional collaboration.
• Must meet eligibility for a U.S. security clearance (Secret).

Responsibilities

• Design solid rocket motor primary and secondary structures per requirements.
• Lead development campaigns validating conceptual designs.
• Provide guidance on prototype assembly, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Review test data and implement design changes.
• Coordinate cross-functional communications to align stakeholders.
• Develop aggressive, achievable product schedules.
• Create CAD models and drawings per ASME Y14.5-2009.
• Maintain design documentation and test plans.
• Collaborate with procurement to support production rates.

Skills

Propulsion design

Additive manufacturing

CAD/analysis tools

Cross-functional collaboration

Clearance readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

ANSYS

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.

As Ursa Major continues it’s growth within the realm of solid propulsion, we’re assembling the most innovative and nimble team in order to unseat the reigning players. We’re applying the latest technologies to an outdated business model that improves cost, lead time, and flexibility without impacting reliability. We must continue to build in-house capabilities in energetics, ballistics, and composites with an emphasis on novel designs focused on manufacturability and high-rate scalability.

The Staff Designer is responsible for the design, analysis, and qualification of solid rocket motor primary structures as well as secondary structures and propulsion elements based on customer requirements and industry specifications. Since Ursa Major leverages additive manufacturing to a significant degree, experience with metal additive design and emerging technologies is required. Additionally, experience designing for high-rate production, automation, and reduced touch labor is essential to scalability.

Responsibilities:

• Clean sheet design of novel solid rocket motors with limited guidance from subject matter experts.
• Distill customer requirements into a 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.
• Lead development campaigns to prove conceptual designs and evaluate applicability to realized products.
• Provide guidance on assembly and testing of initial prototypes and troubleshoot as required.
• Review test data to ensure the product is operating as expected and support design changes as needed.
• Lead cross-functional communications to ensure designs satisfy the needs of each stakeholder.
• Develop and maintain aggressive but achievable product schedules that proactively identify and mitigate high‑risk design decisions.
• Generate, review, and approve CAD models and drawings that are consistent with internal best practices and ASME Y14.5-2009
• Provide dispositions for discrepant hardware including supporting analysis if required.
• Maintain proper documentation of all designs including design reviews, test plans, requirements verification, customer documentation, etc.
• Work with the procurement team to ensure the supply chain can support anticipated production rates and adjust designs when significant supply chain risks are identified.
• Technical mentor for less senior members of the team.
• Author guidance on design best practices and supporting formal documentation as required.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field with 7 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.
• Effective communication skills are crucial for collaborating with cross-functional teams, presenting design concepts, and documenting work.
• An understanding of insensitive munitions protocols and practices utilized in the design of solid rocket motors.
• This position requires that the employee be eligible and maintain eligibility for a Secret Clearance.

Desired Experience:

• Master’s degree or PhD in in a technical discipline such as mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Experience conducting insensitive munitions testing and product qualification.
• 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.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $145,000 – $180,000, 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.