Skip to content

Mechanical

Design Engineer II, Solid Rocket Motors

Ursa Major logoUrsa Major$87,600–$109,500/yrBerthoud, Colorado, United StatesPosted 2mo ago
  • Secret clearance

How this pay compares

This posting states $87.6k–$110k a year. Open propulsion engineer jobs in Colorado post a median of $143k a year, the middle half $114k–$196k, across 44 jobs that state their pay, so this one is below the middle half of what they post.

Propulsion engineers in Colorado: pay by town and employer

About the job

## 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.

The Design Engineer II, Solid Missile Systems, is responsible for the design, analysis, and qualification of solid rocket motor primary structures as well as secondary structures and propulsion elements based on customer requirements and industry specifications. Since Ursa Major leverages additive manufacturing to a significant degree, experience with metal additive design and emerging technologies is required.

Additionally, experience designing for high-rate production, automation, and reduced touch labor is essential to scalability. ## 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, customer documentation, etc. - 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. - Technical mentor for less senior members of the team. - Author guidance on design best practices and supporting formal documentation as required. ## Required Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field with 2+ 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 are crucial for collaborating with cross-functional teams, presenting design concepts, and documenting work. - An understanding of insensitive munitions protocols and practices utilized in the design of solid rocket motors. - This position requires that the employee be eligible and maintain eligibility for a Secret Clearance. ## Desired Experience - Master’s degree or PhD in 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.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $87,600 - $109,500, 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 ## How To Apply: Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by filling out the application below and clicking "Submit Application".

This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will remain open until filled or adjusted based on the volume of applicants. 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. ## 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.

From Ursa Major's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

Selected agencies hiring now

These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.

Sponsored

Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.

Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.

New mechanical, structures and thermal engineering jobs in space in Colorado, by email

One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.

About Ursa Major

American-built propulsion: liquid rocket engines and solid rocket motors.

Pay on its listings: 97.4% of its open jobs state an hourly rate

How it pays: Paid as an employee on Ursa Major's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).

More open jobs at Ursa Major

More mechanical, structures and thermal engineering jobs in space

A mechanical, structures or thermal engineer?

One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.

Create my profile

Ursa Major openings, sent to you weekly

Each week we send the newest postings from Ursa Major's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.