Job Description
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.
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.
Ursa Major’s teams move fast and do a lot with little. We are looking for a skilled fast learning individual who will support our fluid and mechanical system design efforts. This role will be part of the technical organization responsible for clean sheet designs of a variety of propulsion hardware. Candidates will be expected to have ownership from the initial concept phase to a production-ready design and may need to support multiple engine programs simultaneously.
Position Overview
The VP of Engineering will lead an organization of engineers to design develop fly and mass produce critically important commercial liquid propulsion products and novel weapons systems to guarantee national security and deter adversaries. This person must balance hardware execution with creative system level architecture. This role will set the strategic roadmap provide operational oversight achieve team objectives and develop the most talent dense group in the nation. More importantly this role will set the standard of engineering excellence ensuring 100% mission success for our customers.
Responsibilities
- Build manage and lead a rapidly growing team of engineers across a dozen different domains including (but not limited to) turbomachinery avionics test operations analysis FMS vehicle structures combustion devices and configuration.
- Execute technical (TRL) roadmaps for Ursa’s liquid products. These include propulsion systems and fully integrated hypersonic vehicles.
- Own and improve the entire product design lifecycle. Ensure continuity of success through development qualification LRIP and FRP.
- Work in conjunction with operations and manufacturing to achieve cost and lead time goals that enable world class delivery and quality performance at the pace of relevance to our war fighters and other customers.
- Ensure programs are executed to achieve the performance schedule and cost targets established by the business.
- Continuously develop leaders to build a resilient and lasting engineering organization.
- Be the source of inspiration for every engineer at the business.
Required Qualifications
- 15+ years of leadership in a rapidly growing aerospace and defense environment.
- History of leading winning teams and rapidly progressing TRL through qualification and production.
- Deep technical background in hypersonics rocket propulsion and/or mission critical defense technology.
- Transformational communication organizational and decision-making skills.
Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role which is $240000 - $300000 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
- Equity Grants in the Company
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.
What the Team is Saying
What We Do
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 – 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.
Why Work With Us
We believe that each unique team member fuels the creativity necessary to build the world’s best propulsion systems. This is realized as a deeply held commitment to celebrating individuality hiring talent across all backgrounds and experiences building a culture of inclusion and constantly challenging ourselves to improve.
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Date Posted
05/05/2026
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