Role Overview

Ursa Major is seeking a Chief Engineer, Hypersonic Missile & Interceptor to serve as the technical authority and architectural owner for the Draper Engine Hypersonic program. This individual will be accountable for the end-to-end vehicle technical baseline, ensuring the successful integration of propulsion, structures, avionics, GNC, thermal, and mission systems into a flight-worthy, scalable vehicle solution.

As Chief Engineer, you will provide technical leadership across the full lifecycle-from requirements definition and trade studies through design, integration, test, and flight operations-while partnering closely with Program Management, Manufacturing, Mission Assurance, and Business Development. This role is critical to delivering reliable, high-performance systems to government and commercial customers on aggressive schedules.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Authority & Architecture

• Own and maintain the vehicle system architecture, technical baseline, and configuration for the Draper Engine Vehicle.
• Serve as the final technical decision authority for vehicle-level design trades, requirements allocation, and risk acceptance.
• Ensure propulsion (Draper engine) is fully integrated into the vehicle system with appropriate margins, interfaces, and operational envelopes.

Systems Engineering & Integration

• Lead vehicle-level systems engineering, including requirements flow-down, interface control, verification & validation (V&V), and configuration management.
• Oversee cross-disciplinary integration across:
• Propulsion
• Structures & airframe
• GNC
• Avionics & software
• Thermal & TPS
• Mission & flight systems
• Chair technical reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and FRR.

Program Execution Support

• Partner with Program Management to balance performance, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Support proposal efforts, customer technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and design reviews with government and commercial customers.
• Identify technical risks early and lead mitigation plans through test, analysis, or design iteration.

Test, Qualification & Flight Readiness

• Define and approve vehicle-level test strategies including ground testing, qualification, and flight test.
• Ensure data-driven decisions using analysis, modeling, and test results.
• Provide technical sign-off for vehicle readiness and flight authorization.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to subsystem leads and senior engineers.
• Foster a culture of engineering rigor, accountability, and rapid execution.
• Help scale engineering processes and standards as programs mature.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field (Master's or PhD strongly preferred).
• 12+ years of experience in aerospace vehicle development, including system-level ownership.
• Prior experience serving as a Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, or Vehicle Architect on a flight vehicle or missile system.
• Deep understanding of propulsion integration, vehicle dynamics, and system trades.
• Demonstrated experience leading vehicles through design reviews, test campaigns, and flight readiness.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical decisions to executive leadership and customers.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and stay flexible based on customer demands and company priorities along with daily firefighting
• Ability to make sound technical decisions under schedule and performance pressure
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field
• Experience with hypersonic vehicles, missiles, launch vehicles, or advanced propulsion systems.
• Familiarity with thermal, structural, and aero integration challenges in hypersonic regimes
• Experience in design and analysis of fluids systems
• Experience operating in ISO 9001 or AS9100 certified organizations
• Experience with SMC-S-016 Test Requirements
• Background working with DoD, DARPA, or classified programs.
• Familiarity with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools.
• Experience scaling a vehicle program from prototype to production.
• Active or ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $175,000 - $230,000, 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

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.

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.

Must be a U.S. Person (this includes U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents).

Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.

No outside recruiters, please.