Lead Structural Engineer - Hypersonic Airframe

Ursa Major is seeking a Lead Structural Engineer – Hypersonic Airframe to lead the design, analysis, and integration of the primary and secondary structure for a cutting-edge hypersonic vehicle. This individual will be responsible for structural architecture, material selection, and ensuring the airframe meets extreme aerodynamic and thermal loads. The ideal candidate has deep expertise in high-speed vehicle structures, composites, and thermal protection systems, as well as experience in full lifecycle development from concept through flight testing.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the structural design and development of a hypersonic airframe, including primary and secondary load-bearing structures.
• Define airframe architecture, load paths, and materials to withstand high-speed flight environments.
• Conduct detailed structural analysis, including stress, thermal, vibration, and impact loading.
• Drive integration of composites, metals, and thermal protection systems for optimal vehicle performance.
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, and guidance teams to ensure seamless vehicle integration.
• Develop and oversee structural test campaigns, including static, dynamic, and flight tests.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship within the structures and airframe team.
• Interface with customers, suppliers, and manufacturing teams to ensure design feasibility and production readiness.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in structural design and analysis for high-speed vehicles, aerospace platforms, or launch systems.
• Expertise in composite structures, metallic airframes, and advanced materials.
• Proficiency in FEA tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, or NASTRAN for structural analysis.
• Experience with CAD tools (e.g., CATIA, NX, SolidWorks) for structural design.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing techniques, including composites layup, machining, and additive manufacturing.
• Ability to lead cross-disciplinary teams and drive technical decisions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with hypersonic vehicles, reentry systems, or high-Mach flight platforms.
• Knowledge of thermal protection systems and integrated aerothermal-structural design.
• Familiarity with government hypersonic programs and defense customers.
• Hands-on experience with flight testing and structural validation.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $130,000- $170,000, 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.