Propulsion Engineer II

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. 

Our products and technologies require an extraordinary team. A team who will mold tomorrow’s technologies while deploying today’s best. We are comprised of intrinsically motivated individuals who have a passion for solving problems and empower each other every day to develop our skills, knowing that there is always room for growth.

We are looking for a skilled, fast learning individual who will serve as a central member of the In-Space team and take immediate hardware ownership as a responsible engineer.  This role will be part of the technical organization, responsible for clean sheet design, development, and validation of a variety of propulsion hardware. Candidates will be expected to have ownership from the initial concept phase to a production-ready design and may need to support multiple In-Space programs simultaneously. 

Responsibilities: 

• Ownership of new and existing spacecraft propulsion system components through flight with a focus on pressure vessels
• Clean sheet design of spacecraft propulsion system components including tanks, thrusters, and fluid systems 

• Design modifications of existing components and prototypes to increase performance and improve manufacturability

• Derive requirements from top level system and test objectives 

• Write, review, and update work instructions for the assembly of components and establish appropriate acceptance and qualification tests 

• Assemble and test first article prototypes 

• Work closely with interfacing teams to ensure successful integration of component designs into the propulsion system.  Support validation and recursive design during system development. 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering 

• 2+ years of relevant hardware design and ownership experience
• Demonstrated proficiency with basic principles of design for manufacturability 

• Demonstrated proficiency with computer aided design and drafting and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing per ASME Y14.5 

• Working knowledge of and hands-on experience with pressure vessels, fluid, mechanical, and electrical systems 

• Desire to take ownership and help wherever needed on the team 

• Able to delegate tasks and lead large project scope 

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and stay flexible based on customer demands and company priorities along with daily firefighting 

Desired Experience 

• Experience with spacecraft fluid systems architecture, requirements, and design for various missions including LEO, GEO, and beyond 

• Spacecraft propulsion system and component design, test, or analysis 

• Familiarity with hypergolic propellant systems 
• Knowledge of industry standards and requirements including SMC-S-016, AIAA S-080, and SSCMAN 91-710 

• Experience operating in ISO 9001 or AS9100 certified organizations. 

• Experience with structural, fluids, and thermal analysis using Ansys FEA

• 2+ years of Siemens NX CAD programs and Windchill PLM software 

• Master's or PhD in mechanical or aerospace engineering. 

• Component testing and validation experience 

• Experience with flight qualification and flight support. 

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $92,000 - $115,000 determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The salary range for this role is intentionally wide as we are evaluating individuals based on their unique experience and abilities to fit our needs. Most importantly, we are excited to meet you and see if you are a great fit for our team. What we can’t quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy.

Classification: Full-time Exempt