Chief Engineer, Materials

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

As a Chief Engineer at Ursa Major, you are the senior technical authority responsible for the strategic direction, development, qualification, and application of materials and manufacturing processes across the company's propulsion programs. You provide technical leadership that spans programs, products, and manufacturing operations, ensuring materials and process decisions support performance, reliability, manufacturability, scalability, and business objectives.

As a recognized expert and trusted advisor to engineering and executive leadership, you define technical roadmaps, establish engineering standards, guide resolution of the organization's most complex technical challenges, and drive the adoption of advanced materials and manufacturing technologies. You influence critical engineering decisions across the product lifecycle while fostering technical excellence and mentoring the next generation of engineering leaders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the company's senior technical authority for materials and manufacturing processes supporting aerospace propulsion systems.
• Define and execute the long-term strategy and technology roadmap for materials and processes across current and future programs.
• Lead development, qualification, and implementation of advanced materials and manufacturing technologies to improve product performance, reliability, and cost.
• Establish, review, and approve company-wide materials and process specifications, standards, and qualification methodologies.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance for critical design, manufacturing, supplier, and quality decisions involving materials and processes.
• Lead the resolution of the organization's most complex materials and manufacturing challenges, including failure investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action implementation.
• Evaluate and guide make-versus-buy decisions, supplier selection, and strategic investments related to materials and manufacturing capabilities.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Leadership to ensure alignment between technical solutions and business objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing processes, materials qualification approaches, and engineering practices.
• Identify and mature emerging technologies that provide strategic advantage to the organization.
• Mentor engineers across all levels, helping develop technical expertise, engineering judgment, and leadership capabilities.
• Represent Ursa Major as a technical leader with customers, suppliers, industry organizations, and external partners as required.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field and 15+ years of professional experience in aerospace, propulsion, advanced manufacturing, or materials engineering roles. Candidates with a bachelor's degree and extensive relevant experience will also be considered.
• Recognized expertise in metallic materials (e.g., stainless steels, nickel alloys, titanium alloys, aluminum alloys) and advanced manufacturing processes including additive manufacturing, casting, forging, brazing, welding, and machining.
• Extensive experience developing, qualifying, and implementing materials and manufacturing processes for high-performance aerospace applications.
• Demonstrated success leading complex technical initiatives and influencing engineering decisions across multiple programs and organizations.
• Deep knowledge of material testing methods, aerospace materials standards (ASTM, AMS), and quality systems (AS9100, NADCAP).
• Proven experience leading material failure investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action implementation.
• Strong technical leadership, communication, and collaboration skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to balance technical excellence with program, operational, and business objectives.

Preferred Experience

• Aerospace propulsion systems experience, particularly in high-temperature, high-pressure, or highly dynamic operating environments.
• Extensive experience with additive manufacturing technologies and qualification of additively manufactured metallic components.
• Expertise in joining technologies including TIG welding, EB welding, brazing, and other advanced joining methods.
• Experience establishing material allowables, qualification frameworks, and certification methodologies for aerospace applications.
• Hands-on laboratory experience with metallography, fractography, material characterization techniques, and advanced testing equipment.
• Experience building or expanding materials laboratories, qualification programs, or advanced manufacturing capabilities.
• Technical publications, patents, industry presentations, or participation in aerospace standards organizations.

Working Conditions

• Primarily based in an office, engineering, and manufacturing environment with regular interaction across production, test, and laboratory facilities.
• Frequent engagement in manufacturing areas, test facilities, and materials laboratories requiring adherence to safety protocols and use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Occasional domestic travel may be required to support supplier qualification activities, customer engagements, industry conferences, and company facilities.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $167,000 - $209,000, 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