Senior Design Engineer, Solid Rocket Motor Cases

Ursa Major’s solid rocket motor (SRM) team is hiring a multiple Senior Design Engineers to support the design, development, and qualification of solid rocket motor primary structures (motor cases) and key secondary structures. This role has substantial technical responsibility and autonomy, with support from subject matter experts where needed. 

You will be a key contributor to SRM design at Ursa Major, leading composite or metallic case design, owning key structural interfaces, and executing structural test campaigns. You’ll help refine the design methods, standards, and processes that enable scalable, high‑rate production of solid rocket motors. 

This isn't purely a desk job. You’ll be expected to be on the build floor working with technicians, integrating hardware, and resolving build issues in real time. Our engineers work across a variety of programs and roles, so you’ll have the opportunity to contribute beyond your title and take on new challenges as they arise.   

What You’ll Do 

• Lead the design of composite or metallic rocket motor cases and interfacing structures (e.g., attachment points, skirts, fin clips/rails) with minimal guidance from subject matter experts.  

• Translate customer and program requirements into robust, manufacturable designs that meet performance, reliability, cost, and schedule targets.  

• Execute design trades across materials, composite layups, manufacturing processes, and structural configurations. 

• Plan and support development test campaigns to derisk new concepts and mature them into qualified products. 

• Review test data and post-test hardware to verify performance against predictions, identify anomalies, and drive design or process changes when needed.   

• Provide hands-on support during builds and tests by integrating hardware, resolving build issues in real time, and closing the loop between design and manufacturing.  

• Drive cross-functional collaboration with analysis, manufacturing, test, systems, and supply chain teams to ensure case designs meet all stakeholder needs.   

• Develop and maintain project schedules, identifying key risks early and working with technical leads to implement mitigation plans.  

• Generate and review CAD models and engineering drawings in accordance with internal standards and ASME Y14.5‑2009/2018.  

• Maintain clear, organized technical documentation including requirements, design reviews, test plans and reports, and verification/validation evidence.  

• Provide day-to-day technical guidance to junior engineers, contributing to the team’s growth in structural design, materials, and manufacturing. 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field.  

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience with rocket motors, solid propulsion elements, pressure vessels, or high-performance structural components and assemblies.  

• Ability to execute clean-sheet rocket motor case designs, including initial structural analyses to inform geometry, materials, and sizing. 

• Proficiency with CAD and engineering analysis tools (e.g., structural/FEA, pressure vessel analysis, basic thermal analysis).  

• Strong engineering fundamentals, including in-depth knowledge of structural mechanics, materials, and stress analysis; familiarity with thermodynamics and fluid dynamics as they relate to solid rocket motor design.  

• Ability to work autonomously within a defined scope, while knowing when to pull in subject matter experts or technical leads.  

• Clear, effective written and verbal communication skills for cross functional collaboration, design reviews, customer discussions, and documentation.  

• Eligibility for a U.S. DoD Secret Clearance is required and maintaining that eligibility is a condition of employment. 

Desired Experience 

• Master’s degree or PhD in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline.  

• Experience designing for, and working with, elastomeric materials (e.g., seals, boots, liners, vibration isolation).  

• Experience supporting insensitive munitions testing and product qualification for solid rocket motors or related systems.  

• Hands‑on involvement in rapid product development environments (prototype-heavy, fast‑iteration programs).  

• Experience designing hardware for high-rate, automated production, including design for manufacturing/assembly and process automation. 

• Familiarity with composite material design and manufacturing (i.e., flat panels, filament wound structures). 

• Familiarity with high-strength metallic alloys and associated forming and joining methods.  

• Proficiency with Siemens NX (CAD) and Ansys (FEA) tools.  

• Active DoD Secret Clearance or higher. 

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $105,840 - $132,300, 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