Vice President, Engineering

Ursa Major; Berthoud (CO); On-site; USD 240,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Parental leave

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

401k with Company Match

Equity Grants

AD&D Insurance

Short/Long Term Disability

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Ursa Major is seeking a VP of Engineering to lead an agile team of engineers developing hypersonic propulsion, avionics, and vehicle systems. You will set a customer-focused technology and execution roadmap, provide operational oversight, and drive 100% mission success for critical defense programs.

You will lead efforts across development cycles from concept through qualification, LRIP and FRP, partnering with operations to optimize cost and schedule while mentoring future leaders and

Qualifications

• 15+ years of technical leadership in aerospace/defense.
• History of leading winning teams and rapid TRL progression.
• Deep technical background in hypersonics, rocket propulsion, or defense tech.
• Strong transformational communication and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and build engineers in hypersonic propulsion, avionics and vehicle systems.
• Execute TRL roadmaps for hypersonic products.
• Own end-to-end product design lifecycle from development to FRP/qualification.
• Collaborate with operations to meet cost and lead-time goals.
• Ensure programs meet performance, schedule, and cost targets tied to customer requirements.
• Develop leaders to build a resilient engineering organization.
• Inspire engineers across the company.

Skills

Technical leadership

Hypersonics expertise

Rocket propulsion

Strategic planning

Team leadership

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.

Ursa Major has an impeccable track record of rapid development and extremely high mission success rates with our customers. To produce such outcomes from our products and technologies we require an extraordinary team. A team that will mold tomorrow’s technologies while deploying today’s best. We are an intrinsically motivated team that has a passion for solving problems and empowering each other every day to deepen and expand our skills, knowing that there is always room for more growth.

The VP of Engineering will lead an organization of agile engineers to develop, fly, and produce critically important novel Hypersonic weapons as well as commercial liquid propulsion systems. This role will set a customer focused strategic technology and execution roadmap, provide operational oversight, achieve team objectives, and develop the most talent dense group in the nation. More importantly, this role will set the standard of engineering excellence, ensuring 100% mission success for our customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and build a rapidly growing team of engineers developing advanced Hypersonic propulsion, avionics and vehicle systems and integrating advanced seeker and warheads to achieve the missions our customers need to fly.
• Execute technical (TRL) roadmaps for Ursa's hypersonic products. These include propulsion systems and fully integrated hypersonic vehicles.
• Own and improve the entire product design lifecycle. Ensure continuity of success through development, qualification, LRIP, and FRP.
• Work in conjunction with operations and manufacturing to achieve cost and lead time goals that enable world class delivery and quality performance at the pace of relevance to our war fighters and other customers.
• Ensure programs are executed to achieve the performance, schedule, and cost targets established by the business and are aligned to customer Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for logistics, handling, and launching our vehicles.
• Continuously develop leaders to build a resilient and lasting engineering organization.
• Be the source of inspiration for every engineer at the business.

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of technical leadership in a rapidly growing, aerospace and defense environment.
• History of leading winning teams and rapidly progressing TRL through qualification and production.
• Deep technical background in hypersonics, rocket propulsion, and/or mission critical defense technology as well as established relationships and credibility within the military Hypersonics community.
• Transformational communication, organizational, and decision-making skills.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $240,000 - 300,000, 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.