Staff Design Engineer — Solid Propulsion & Additive

Ursa Major; Berthoud (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Parental leave

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

HSA/FSA

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401k with match

Equity grants

Job summary

Ursa Major is seeking a Staff Designer to design, analyze, and qualify solid rocket motor primary and secondary structures. You will leverage additive manufacturing and NDAs to drive scalable, low-cost, reliable propulsion solutions for national security programs.

The role demands leadership in design reviews, prototyping, and cross‑functional collaboration. Required qualifications include a Bachelor's in aerospace or mechanical engineering, 7+ years in rocket motors, NX/Ansys proficiency, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering or related field.
• 7+ years of relevant experience in rocket motors or solid propulsion.
• Proficiency with CAD and analysis tools.
• Strong understanding of metal additive manufacturing and design limitations.
• Solid fundamentals in thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and structural mechanics.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for cross‑functional teams.
• Eligibility for Secret Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design solid rocket motor primary structures and propulsion elements per customer requirements and specs.
• Lead development campaigns to prove conceptual designs and assess applicability.
• Guide assembly and testing of prototypes and troubleshoot.
• Review test data and implement design changes as needed.
• Maintain documentation including design reviews, test plans, and verifications.
• Collaborate with procurement to ensure scalable production and manage supply risks.
• Mentor junior engineers; author design best-practice guidance.

Skills

Rocket motors

Solid propulsion elements

CAD/analysis tools

Additive manufacturing

Thermodynamics

Fluid dynamics

Structural mechanics

Cross-functional communication

Security clearance readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

Ansys

Job description

Ursa Major is seeking a Staff Designer to design, analyze, and qualify solid rocket motor primary and secondary structures. You will leverage additive manufacturing and NDAs to drive scalable, low-cost, reliable propulsion solutions for national security programs.

The role demands leadership in design reviews, prototyping, and cross‑functional collaboration. Required qualifications include a Bachelor's in aerospace or mechanical engineering, 7+ years in rocket motors, NX/Ansys proficiency, and