Staff Structural Analysis Engineer

 

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. 

As a Staff Analysis Engineer, you will provide technical leadership in structural and/or thermal‑fluids analysis for aerospace vehicles and propulsion systems. You will work across multiple engines, stages, and supporting systems, bringing best practices from prior roles, supporting and/or leading verification and validation, and providing proactive design feedback. You will help assess nonconforming hardware, improve analysis methods, and mentor other engineers over time. This position is available to work remotely or at our Berthoud, Colorado facility.

Responsibilities (may apply in combination and/or based on focus)

• Evaluate designs through static, dynamic, fatigue, and/or fracture analyses to meet performance, reliability, and life objectives.
• Develop and maintain system‑level and/or detailed FEM/FEA models for vehicles and propulsion systems; propagate loads and support loads development.
• Perform thermal‑structural and/or coupled thermal‑stress analyses, including nonlinear materials and large strains, and support vibration/shock analysis as needed.
• Verify and validate analytical and/or fluid system models, anchoring them to test data; work with test teams to define necessary instrumentation.
• Use hand calculations and/or CFD to assess fluid behavior (e.g., pressure drops, mass‑flow distribution, component performance) in engine and vehicle systems.
• Build steady‑state and/or transient 1D fluid models to predict system operating states, startup/shutdown behavior, and other key transients.
• Collaborate with design, systems, and manufacturing to ensure requirements and standards are met, and to disposition nonconforming hardware and repairs.
• Support anomaly and/or failure investigations through structural and/or fluid modeling and participation in root‑cause analysis.
• Improve analysis methods, workflows, and tools; contribute to team capability growth and provide technical guidance.

Minimum Requirements

• S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or a related field.
• ~10+ years of structural and/or thermal‑fluids analysis experience on vehicles and/or propulsion systems.
• Strong background in structural mechanics and/or in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer.
• Experience performing FEA/FEM using commercial codes (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN‑based solvers).
• Experience anchoring analytical and/or fluid models to physical test data.
• Fatigue and fracture experience (e.g., HCF SN, LCF e‑N, and/or LEFM crack growth/safe‑life; NASGRO or similar tools beneficial).
• Experience in CFD and/or 1D fluid system modeling using commercial and/or lumped‑parameter tools (e.g., ANSYS Fluent/CFX, ROCETS, GFSSP, SINDA/FLUINT or similar).
• Programming skills for analysis automation and data processing (Python preferred; MATLAB or similar acceptable).
• Effective written and verbal communication; comfortable working in a fast‑paced, startup environment on safety‑critical systems.

Preferred Requirements

• S. or PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with emphasis in solid mechanics, fatigue/fracture, structural dynamics, fluids, and/or thermal sciences.
• ~12+ years combined structural and/or fluids analysis experience, ideally in rocketry or turbomachinery.
• Experience with advanced dynamics and loads (modal, random vibration, shock response).
• Specialized CFD (e.g., pumps, turbines, cavitation/two‑phase, combustion, or unsteady flows) and/or transient 1D modeling (e.g., water hammer, engine start).
• Experience with cryogenic, high‑pressure pneumatic, two‑phase or supercritical, and/or compressible flow systems.
• Familiarity with turbomachinery analytical methods (e.g., Campbell diagrams, rotordynamics) and/or composite materials, insulation, and ablative TPS.
• Experience supporting failure investigations and root‑cause analysis on development, test, or flight hardware.

 

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $140,000 - $175,000, 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.    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.