Staff Mechanical Engineer, Design - Solid Rocket Motors

Position Overview

Ursa Major was founded to address a critical shortfall in the U.S. industrial base and bring a new model to aerospace and defense systems: we design and manufacture the world’s leading propulsion systems for space, hypersonic applications, and missile systems. Our products and technologies require an extraordinary team that will mold tomorrow’s technologies while deploying today’s best. As Ursa Major expands into the realm of solid propulsion, we’re assembling the most innovative and nimble team to unseat the reigning players by applying the latest technologies to an outdated business model.

The Staff Mechanical Engineer, Design is responsible for the design, analysis, and qualification of solid rocket motor primary structures as well as secondary structures and propulsion elements. This role leverages significant additive manufacturing techniques, requiring experience with metal additive design and emerging technologies, and expertise in designing for high-rate production, automation, and reduced touch labor.

Compensation: $120,000 - $190,000 per year.

Classification:

Key Responsibilities

• Clean sheet design of novel solid rocket motors with limited guidance from subject matter experts.
• Distill customer requirements into a design that meets or exceeds the intent while adhering to the Ursa Major criteria for low-cost yet reliable products. Also, support customer interactions when requested.
• Lead development campaigns to prove conceptual designs and evaluate applicability to realized products.
• Provide guidance on assembly and testing of initial prototypes and troubleshoot as required.
• Review test data to ensure the product is operating as expected and support design changes as needed.
• Lead cross-functional communications to ensure designs satisfy the needs of each stakeholder.
• Develop and maintain aggressive but achievable product schedules that proactively identify and mitigate high-risk design decisions.
• Generate, review, and approve CAD models and drawings that are consistent with internal best practices and ASME Y14.5-2009.
• Provide dispositions for discrepant hardware including supporting analysis if required.
• Maintain proper documentation of all designs including design reviews, test plans, requirements verification, and customer documentation.
• Work with the procurement team to ensure the supply chain can support anticipated production rates and adjust designs when significant supply chain risks are identified.
• Act as a technical mentor for less senior members of the team.
• Author guidance on design best practices and support formal documentation as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field with 7 years of relevant experience.
• Relevant experience with rocket motors, solid propulsion elements, and structural interfaces.
• Proficiency with computer-aided design and analysis tools.
• Strong understanding of design for additive manufacturing including material and design limitations of metal additive processes.
• Strong engineering fundamentals including in-depth knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and structural mechanics.
• Effective communication skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams, presenting design concepts, and documenting work.
• Understanding of insensitive munitions protocols and practices utilized in the design of solid rocket motors.
• Eligibility and maintenance of eligibility for a Secret Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in a technical discipline such as mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Experience conducting insensitive munitions testing and product qualification.
• Hands-on experience supporting rapid product development.
• Experience designing hardware for high-rate production including automated processes.
• Familiarity with composite overwrap and filament winding design and analysis.
• Experience with Siemen’s NX and Ansys software packages.
• DoD Secret Security Clearance or higher.

Benefits & Perks

• 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, Emergency Medical Transport and Pet Insurance
• EAP Program
• Retirement Savings Plan - Traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k)
• Company stock options