Staff Loads & Dynamics 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 Loads and Dynamics Analysis Engineer, you will primarily focus on load development across vehicles and propulsion systems.  Your secondary focus will either be Global Finite Element Modeling or GN&C. You will be exposed to multiple vehicles, systems, and engines, along with the unique challenges each present. We are looking for experienced analysts who bring new skills and best practices from their prior experience to Ursa and who, in time, will mentor others. You will be expected to lead verification and validation efforts and to provide proactive feedback to our design team based on the results of your work. Lastly, as Ursa ramps up its production rate and begins development on new engine platforms, you will be expected to assess nonconforming hardware, introduce approaches that could improve our team’s efficiency, and potentially venture into engine stress analysis to support others in our multi-disciplinary analysis team. You will report to our Propulsion Analysis Team Lead. 

Responsibilities: 

• You will perform loads development for vehicles and engine programs 

• You will lead load spectrum development for service life assessment 

• You will perform vehicle dynamics analysis 

• You will verify and validate your models 

• You will work closely with our test team to request the instrumentation necessary to anchor our analytical models 

• You will support GFEM development for vehicles and propulsion systems 

• You will propagate loads to vehicle and engine components 

• You will collaborate with other engineering teams to develop our systems while ensuring they meet requirements and comply with the structural standards we follow 

• You will collaborate with our manufacturing team to assess nonconforming hardware for development and flight components and provide recommended dispositions and repairs 

• You will improve our analytical methods and seek out new approaches and tools 

• You will provide professional development, mentorship, and technical guidance to peers 

Minimum Experience/Requirements: 

• B.S. degree in mechanical, aerospace engineering, or a comparable field 

• 8+ years of experience performing L&D analysis 

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, startup environment 

• Expertise in dynamic analysis methods (structural dynamics, dynamic loads,  acoustics , modal, random vibration, shock response) 

• Working experience in loads development for vehicle and/or engine applications 

• Experience anchoring analytical models to physical testing 

Ideal Experience/Requirements: 

• M.S. degree or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, or a comparable field, ideally focusing on solid mechanics, fatigue, fracture, or structural dynamics 

• Experience with flutter analysis 

• GFEM development and model grounding experience 

• Knowledge of turbomachinery-related analytical methods (e.g., generating Campbell diagrams to assess margins on rotordynamics or structural modes or rotating hardware). 

• High Cycle Fatigue Analysis (HCF, crack initiation predicted by a stress-life / SN approach) 

• Low Cycle Fatigue Analysis (LCF, crack initiation predicted by a strain-life / e-N approach) 

• Experience performing Finite Element Analysis (FEA / FEM) using commercial codes (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus, or NASTRAN-based solvers) 

• Experience with Femap/Nastran 

• Fracture analysis (crack growth / safe-life and assessing for instability via LEFM, ideally with prior experience using NASGRO) 

• Experience with the ANSYS FEA suite 

• A strong theoretical background in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and/or compressible flow 

• Prior experience working on safety-critical systems in production environments 

• Prior professional experience working on either rocketry or turbomachinery 

• Experience supporting failure investigations and root-cause analysis 

• A track record of working efficiently in fast-paced engineering environments 

• A track record of effective oral and written communications to support your recommendations 

• Thermal-Structural static analysis (particularly dealing with nonlinear materials and large strains  

• Fluid analysis (e.g. Computational Fluid Dynamics / CFD or 1-D transient analysis using SINDA/FLUINT or ROCETS) 

• Knowledge of composite materials, insulation, and ablative thermal protection systems 

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $140,000 - $170,000, 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.

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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.