Staff Instrumentation & Controls Engineer

Ursa Major; Berthoud (CO); On-site; USD 130,000 - 161,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Parental and adoptive leave

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401k with company match

Equity grants

Job summary

Ursa Major in Colorado is seeking a Staff Instrumentation & Controls Engineer to own sensor selection and automated control/data acquisition systems for high‑performance propulsion and production equipment.

You will design, implement, and validate headless cRIO/PXI systems, develop LabVIEW programs, and integrate with Siemens S7 PLCs within our SCADA and digital manufacturing layers. Collaborative across manufacturing, test, quality and product teams.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience designing test/process systems or related roles.
• BS degree or higher in engineering; Mechatronics/chemical/mechanical preferred.
• Experience developing headless operating cRIO/PXI systems.
• Experience LabVIEW programs integrating non-NI hardware.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Ability to balance stakeholder requirements and deliver on time.
• Physical tasks including standing, ladders, kneeling, and lifting up to 25 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Be part of a team designing safety-first systems with hazardous materials.
• Understand functional test requirements for propulsion subassemblies.
• Lead instrumentation selection across test applications.
• Lead development of headless cRIO/PXI connected to SCADA.
• Lead LabVIEW programs for parallel operation with PLCs for validation.
• Generate documentation including operator manuals and work instructions.
• Contribute to internal production equipment standards.
• Implement networked communications between NI/Siemens hardware and SCADA.

Skills

cRIO/PXI systems

LabVIEW

SCADA integration

PLC integration (Siemens S7)

Instrumentation selection

Education

BS degree in engineering

Tools

LabVIEW

Siemens S7

Ignition SCADA

Eplan

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.

We are seeking a Staff Instrumentation & Controls Engineer to own sensor selection and implementation of automated control and data acquisition systems. To succeed in this role, you will need to develop deep understanding of processes across Ursa Major’s product lines. You will be highly collaborative with Manufacturing, Test, Quality, Safety, and product owners. The scope of work will be from benchtop test fixtures to facility‑scale equipment.

The role will focus on developing industry‑leading production equipment utilizing the cRIO/PXI platforms as headless controllers and DAQ for high‑speed applications. These systems will be integrated into Ursa Major’s SCADA and digital manufacturing layers. You will also develop LabVIEW programs to operate collaboratively with PLCs for validation and development activities.

Responsibilities

• Be part of a team designing safety‑first systems handling hazardous fluids, powders, and energetics mixtures, as well as high pressures and voltages
• Gain deep understanding of functional test requirements of propulsion subassemblies/components to deliver industry‑leading production equipment
• Lead selection of instrumentation across a wide range of test applications and
• Lead development of headless‑operating cRIO/PXI connected to SCADA layer and
• Lead development of LabVIEW programs that allows parallel operation & process validation with Siemens S7 PLCs and enable development operations.
• Participate in equipment development with consideration of product specifications, process requirements, layout complexity, cost, and lead‑time limits
• Be hands‑on during commissioning, working alongside engineers and technicians
• Generate documentation including operator manuals, and work instructions for operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance
• Contribute to internal production equipment standards and requirements documentation
• Implement networked communications standards to interconnect NI and Siemens hardware together and to the SCADA layer

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience with test/process system design or related role
• BS degree or higher in an engineering field, Mechatronic/chemical/mechanical preferred (suitable experience may be substituted)
• Experience developing headless operating cRIO/PXI systems
• Experience LabVIEW programs integrating non‑NI hardware
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal
• Ability to work flexibly in a fast‑paced environment, collaborating with other functions and departments
• Demonstrated ability to balance requirements of multiple stakeholders and deliver projects on time
• Ability to perform physical tasks including standing for long periods, working on ladders, kneeling, crouching, working in tight spaces, lifting objects up to 25 lbs.

Preferred Experience

• Demonstrated first‑principals approach to instrumentation and process equipment
• Experience working with PLCs (Siemens S7 or other)
• Experience with Ignition SCADA & HMI
• Experience with OPCUA, EtherCat, Profinet, or similar
• Experience with continuous and batch process system design
• Experience in production within ISO 9001 or AS9100 certified organizations
• Experience creating electrical schematics in CAD (Eplan or similar)
• Experience creating P&ID (Eplan or similar)
• Experience designing and building industrial electrical control panels
• Experience designing and building high pressure fluid systems
• Experience with equipment validation, IQ, OQ, PQ, Gauge R&R, or other
• Familiarity with NFPA, NEC, ASME piping codes, and other related standards

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $130,000 - $161,000, 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.