Staff Engineering Technician

Frontdoor Defense; Berthoud (CO); On-site; USD 54,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

401k with Company Match

Parental Leave

Disability Insurance

Job summary

Ursa Major in Berthoud, Colorado, is seeking a Staff Engineering Technician to support manufacturing engineers and design engineers on the production floor. You will develop, document, and improve manufacturing processes for propulsion components and support additive manufacturing equipment.

This hands-on role emphasizes reliable fabrication, process validation, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure safety, quality, and continuous improvement on the shop floor and in R&D environments.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in manufacturing or R&D with mechanical focus.
• Experience reading engineering drawings and GD&T.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs and work with high-temp equipment.
• Experience operating production or lab equipment per procedures.
• Strong documentation and data-recording discipline.

Responsibilities

• Develop, validate, and refine manufacturing processes for mechanical and propulsion components.
• Set up and monitor additive manufacturing equipment for development/production.
• Perform maintenance and basic troubleshooting on production and lab equipment.
• Create/update work instructions and SOPs.
• Record process data and support root-cause analysis for quality.
• Support production builds with material prep and inspections.
• Collaborate with quality and manufacturing to disposition nonconformities.
• Maintain safe, organized work areas per safety and quality requirements.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Detail oriented

Communication

Troubleshooting

Data entry

Safety

Education

Associate degree

Technical certificate

7+ years experience

Tools

CAD software

Slicing software

Calipers

Micrometers

Gauges

Job description

Staff Engineering Technician

Lead development of manufacturing processes for propulsion components on the production floor

Location: Berthoud, Colorado

Compensation: $39 - 49 USD / hour

About The Role

Staff Engineering Technician

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 Staff Engineering Technician will support Manufacturing Engineers (MEs) and Design Engineers in developing, documenting, and improving manufacturing processes for propulsion and related mechanical hardware. This role will also support the operation and upkeep of additive manufacturing equipment. The Engineering Technician will work hands-on on the production floor and in research and development environments to enable reliable, repeatable hardware fabrication and process validation.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineers and Design Engineers to develop, validate, and refine manufacturing processes for mechanical and propulsion components.
• Support the setup, operation, and monitoring of additive manufacturing equipment as needed for development and production work.
• Perform routine and preventive maintenance and basic troubleshooting on production and lab equipment, including additive systems.
• Assist in creating and updating work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and other process documentation.
• Collect and record process data; support root cause analysis and continuous improvement activities for yield, quality, and throughput.
• Support production builds, including material preparation, fixture/tooling setup, and in-process inspections.
• Work cross-functionally with quality and manufacturing teams to identify, report, and help disposition nonconformities.
• Maintain safe, organized work areas and adhere to all safety and quality requirements.

Required Qualifications:

• Associate degree or technical certificate in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, or related engineering technology field, or equivalent hands-on experience (7+ years) in a manufacturing or R&D environment.
• Experience operating production or lab equipment and following documented procedures in a technical environment.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, basic GD&T, and manufacturing documentation.
• Proficiency with basic hand tools, measurement tools (calipers, micrometers, gauges), and shop equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to accurately record production or test data and communicate findings.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs. and work safely around chemicals, high-temperature equipment, and rotating machinery.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience supporting manufacturing or test operations in aerospace, automotive, or other high-reliability industries.
• Exposure to additive manufacturing processes (e.g., FDM, SLS, SLA, metal AM) in a prototyping or production context.
• Hands-on experience with process development, pilot runs, or design-for-manufacture (DFM) activities.
• Familiarity with CAD tools and/or basic file preparation for additive manufacturing (e.g., model export, slicing, build setup).
• Experience in a quality-controlled environment with nonconformity reporting and corrective action activities.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong mechanical aptitude and comfort working hands-on with hardware and equipment.
• Detail-oriented, with a focus on process discipline, repeatability, and documentation accuracy.
• Effective communication skills; able to work closely with engineers, technicians, and operators on the shop floor.
• Ability to troubleshoot equipment and process issues methodically and propose practical solutions.
• Basic computer skills, including use of production software, data entry, and report generation.
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Working Conditions / Physical Demands (if applicable):

• Work performed primarily in manufacturing and lab environments with regular exposure to noise, dust, and production equipment.
• Regular standing, walking, bending, and reaching; use of ladders or platforms as needed.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move equipment or materials up to 40 lbs.

Use of PPE as required (safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, respirators depending on task).

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $38.96 - $48.70 per hour, 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 Non-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. No outside recruiters, please.