Senior Build Reliability Engineer

Overview

The Build Reliability Engineer (Rocket Engines) ensures the integrity, reliability, and manufacturability of Ursa Major rocket engines throughout their lifecycle — from concept through hot-fire testing and production release.

You will partner with design, manufacturing, and test teams, developing and executing reliability and quality strategies that make engines robust, repeatable, and production-ready. This is a hands-on technical role, deeply embedded in production and test operations.

You’ll drive process improvements, validate inspection and test methods, investigate failures, and lead data-driven problem-solving efforts that directly affect engine performance. While this position operates within an AS9100-compliant environment, it is not a compliance or auditing role — it’s about building engines that work the first time, every time.

• Partner with design, manufacturing, and test teams through development and production to create and execute quality and reliability plans for rocket engines and major subsystems — including identification of key characteristics, prototype validation, inspection planning, and lessons learned integration.
• Develop, implement, and validate Lean test and inspection processes for new and existing hardware to ensure criteria are objective, data-driven, and production-efficient.
• Monitor engine and process performance through production ramp-up using statistical and analytical tools to identify trends and drive proactive improvements.
• Conduct build quality reviews to verify design intent and highlight opportunities to reduce risk, improve manufacturability, and eliminate recurring issues.
• Investigate and resolve failures during manufacturing, test, and operation — identifying root causes, leading corrective actions, and improving process robustness.
• Contain and control nonconforming product, coordinating with inspectors, technicians, and engineers to ensure timely disposition, rework, and re-verification.
• Advance Lean and autonomous production systems by standardizing rework guides, reducing redundant inspections, and optimizing critical process controls.
• Mentor junior Quality Engineers, fostering technical rigor, ownership, and sound engineering judgment.
• Support AS9100 requirements and customer standards, maintaining disciplined documentation and contributing to ongoing system-level improvements.
• Drive a reliability-first culture — integrating quality and design thinking across engineering, manufacturing, and test.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, or related discipline).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing, reliability, product, or quality engineering within aerospace or high-reliability production environments.
• Strong background in process control, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive action methodologies.
• Hands-on experience with inspection planning, design verification, and failure analysis for complex electromechanical or fluid systems.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 or equivalent aerospace quality systems.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and cross-functional problem-solving skills.

• Experience with liquid rocket engines, turbo machinery, valves, or pressure-fed propulsion systems.
• Familiarity with FAI, APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, and control plan development.
• Experience supporting:
  Additive, Precision-machined, or welded hardware as well as engine assembly and hot-fire test operations.
• Exposure to digital quality tools such as HighQA, Windchill, Odoo, Foundry, or Ignition.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and influence technical peers, shaping a culture of excellence and accountability.

• On-site position at our manufacturing facility with remote flexibility 1-day per week. Relocation assistance offered as needed.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $110,000 - $145,000, 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…