Senior Test Engineer

Employer description

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. 

Senior Test Engineer, Solid Missile Systems 
Location: Galeton & Berthoud, Colorado 
 

Ursa Major develops, manufactures, and tests solid rocket motors for modern defense applications. We are building a high-performance engineering organization focused on designing and operating the ground systems that enable safe, repeatable, and scalable propulsion testing. 

As a Senior Test Engineer, you will own the design, integration, build, and lifecycle support of test infrastructure used for propulsion testing. This includes static fire test stands, fluid-mechanical systems, ground support equipment (GSE), and the integrated controls, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems required to execute tests safely and repeatably. 

This is a hands-on role working directly at rocket test sites and in remote field locations, where you will build, assemble, modify, and troubleshoot mechanical, fluid, and controls-based test systems. You’ll collaborate closely with test technicians, propulsion engineers, and operations teams to execute development and qualification test campaigns and resolve system-level issues in real time.  

Key Responsibilities 

Integrated Test Systems & Infrastructure Ownership 

• Design, develop, commission, and sustain scalable propulsion test stands and test infrastructure supporting multiple solid rocket motor programs ranging from early R&D through qualification and production acceptance testing. 

• Design and integrate fluid-mechanical systems including high-pressure gas systems, pneumatics, hydraulics, and remotely operated ground support equipment. 

• Design and maintain industrial electrical and controls systems for propulsion test operations, including low-voltage power distribution, grounding/bonding, interlocks, PLC-based automation, sequencing logic, and facility electrical integration. 

• Support instrumentation and data acquisition systems including sensor integration, signal conditioning, calibration strategy, distributed DAQ architecture, data integrity validation, and control room interfaces. 

• Lead and oversee static fire campaigns, including system validation, real-time test operation leadership, and anomaly resolution to deliver decision-ready test data 

Safety and Operational Excellence 

• Own test range safety analysis for SRM testing, including overpressure, fragmentation, and environmental hazards and exclusion zones.  

• Own test risk assessments, ensuring hazards are clearly identified, mitigated, and communicated.  

• Serve as a technical resource for hazardous test operations involving high-pressure fluids, energetic systems, and integrated controls systems.  

• Partner closely with EHS to support test safety planning, hazard analysis, risk mitigation, and compliance with applicable safety standards, energetic material handling requirements, and regulatory requirements for test operations and infrastructure. 

 Cross-Functional Leadership 

• Collaborate closely with engineering, manufacturing, operations, facilities, and program teams to enable rapid testing and design iteration, risk reduction, and flight readiness. 

• Support long-term standardization test infrastructure planning including facility expansion, capital improvements, operational scalability, and infrastructure modernization efforts across multiple sites. 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering (or related engineering discipline). 

• 4+ years of experience in propulsion testing, aerospace systems, manufacturing, energy systems, heavy industry, or other hazardous hardware development environments. 

• Demonstrated track record designing, integrating, commissioning, or operating test stands, ground support equipment, or integrated test systems for hazardous or high-energy hardware applications. 

• Experience with PLC-based automation systems, National Instruments DAQ systems, and 3D CAD software such as NX, Inventor, CATIA, or SolidWorks. 

• Strong working knowledge of hazardous systems including energetic systems, cryogenics, high-pressure gases, or industrial electrical systems. 

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex test campaigns emphasizing safety, reliability, operational execution, and data quality. 

• Ability to obtain explosive permits from the ATF and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. 

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Demonstrated technical leadership defining, scaling, or standardizing integrated propulsion test infrastructure across multiple programs, facilities, or development campaigns.  

• Experience with Siemens PLC platforms, industrial automation, distributed controls systems, and integrated controls architectures.  

• Extensive experience designing, commissioning, or operating static fire test stands, blast-resistant systems, hazardous ground support equipment, or large-scale test infrastructure.  

Work Environment & Physical Requirements 

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