Propulsion Engineer II; Vehicle

Position: Propulsion Engineer II (Vehicle)
Location: Berthoud

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 is seeking a Propulsion Engineer II (propulsion systems) to support the technical definition, integration, and execution of propulsion systems for hypersonic vehicles.

Ursa Major’s teams move fast and does a lot with little.  We are looking for a skilled, fast-learning individual who will serve as a central member of the team and take immediate ownership of their system as a responsible engineer.  This role sits at the intersection of propulsion design, vehicle integration, systems engineering, and test, with ownership from early concept through flight demonstration and production transition.

The ideal candidate brings propulsion experience, strong systems thinking, and the ability to drive technical decisions in fast-paced, hardware-centric programs.

Key Responsibilities Clean sheet design and analysis of fluid & mechanical vehicle components including tanks, structures, feed systems, propellant management, and fluid systems

Leverage first-principles engineering to drive design and technical decisions

Support rapid development cycles of new designs and changing requirements including testing, data analysis and hands-on hardware work Design modifications of existing components and prototypes to increase performance, improve manufacturability or resolve limitations

Support test planning and execution, including ground and flight test support

Participate in failure investigations, nonconformance resolution, and continuous design improvement

Assembly and testing of first article prototypes

Collaborate with the manufacturing, analysis, and test teams to reduce part-to-part variation and discrepancies

Work with other engineers at Ursa Major on topics including design of components, system sizing, component testing, and system-level architecture.

Interface with customers and external partners during design reviews, technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and integrated product team (IPT) meetings

Support manufacturing through design for manufacturability (DFM) and producibility considerations

Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field3-5 years of experience in propulsion systems engineering or propulsion-focused vehicle development

Demonstrated proficiency with computer aided design and drafting

Experience with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing per ASME Y14.5

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

Desire to take ownership and help wherever needed on the team Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and stay flexible based on customer demands and company priorities along with daily firefighting

Excellent problem solving, task management, and communication skills

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

Desire to take ownership of multiple projects at once2+ years of Siemens NX CAD programs and Windchill PLM software

Experience leading design reviews to communicate design decisions and trades. Well versed in documenting those reviews

Experience in design and analysis of tanks, structures or fluids

Coordination with analysis and lead engineers to quickly mature designs

Demonstrated proficiency with basic principles of design for manufacturing

Ability to make sound technical decisions under schedule and performance pressure

Experienc…