Vehicle Design Lead

Ursa Major is seeking a Vehicle Design Lead to spearhead the development of a cutting-edge hypersonic vehicle. This individual will be responsible for leading the conceptualization, design, and integration of all vehicle subsystems, ensuring a balance between performance, manufacturability, and mission success. This role requires deep technical expertise in hypersonic systems, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to drive innovative solutions in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the overall design and development of a hypersonic vehicle from concept to prototype.
• Define vehicle-level requirements, architecture, and performance trade-offs.
• Oversee the integration of propulsion, thermal protection, aerodynamics, structures, and avionics.
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, materials, propulsion, and guidance teams to ensure cohesive system performance.
• Conduct design reviews, analysis, and validation of vehicle systems.
• Drive system-level optimization for weight, cost, and manufacturability.
• Interface with government and commercial customers, ensuring technical alignment and program execution.
• Support fabrication, testing, and flight demonstration efforts.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in aerospace vehicle design, with a strong background in hypersonics preferred.
• Expertise in aerodynamics, thermal protection systems, composite structures, or propulsion integration.
• Proficiency in CAD, CFD, FEM, and other relevant simulation tools.
• Demonstrated leadership in multidisciplinary design teams.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, hands-on development environment.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with rapid prototyping and flight testing of high-speed vehicles.
• Familiarity with government hypersonics programs and DoD customers.
• Knowledge of manufacturing and materials for extreme environments.

 

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $140,000- $180,000, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The salary range for this role is intentionally wide as we are evaluating individuals based on their unique experience and abilities to fit our needs. Most importantly, we are excited to meet you, and see if you are a great fit for our team. What we can’t quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy.