Propellant Development Engineer II Verified today
About the Role
Ursa Major seeks a Propellant Development Engineer II to support solid rocket motor (SRM) propellant development. You will conduct research and development work focused on formulation and polymer chemistry, with hands-on experience handling energetic and explosive materials. You will be trained in setup, operation, and maintenance of hazardous process equipment for energetics processing.
Key Responsibilities
Program Support & Technical Execution
- Support energetics development programs by completing assigned technical tasks to meet project milestones and schedules
- Prepare status updates for project leads and management, tracking progress against technical and manufacturing goals
Research, Development & Engineering
- Assist in developmental formulation, mixing, casting, and testing of solid propellants to evaluate performance, shelf-life, and stability
- Apply foundational knowledge in energetic materials, chemical kinetics, and combustion under senior guidance
- Process and analyze material property and test data to verify compliance with performance requirements
- Utilize standardized tools, protocols, and calculation templates for propellant design and evaluation
Manufacturing & Process Operations
- Assist in transitioning propellant formulations from laboratory mixing to production scale operations
- Participate in optimizing laboratory equipment and processing techniques for safety, yield, and quality
- Draft test procedures, laboratory reports, design review materials, and manufacturing batch records
Quality, Safety & Investigation
- Assist in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and fault tree evaluations for non-conformances and testing anomalies
- Work closely with cross-functional teams to execute daily operations safely and effectively
- Maintain active participation in hazard analyses, process safety reviews, and local safety audits
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
- 2+ years of experience or relevant coursework/laboratory experience involving energetic materials, polymers, chemical processing, or fluid mechanics
- Ability to follow engineering guidelines, break down technical problems, and execute systematic solutions
- Strong verbal and written communication skills for documenting technical work and presenting findings
- Demonstrated ability to work productively within cross-functional engineering teams in a fast-paced environment
- Unwavering commitment to safety protocols when working with hazardous energetic materials
Required Eligibility
- Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident)
- Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance
Compensation and Benefits
Base compensation range: $90,000 to $112,000, determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Benefits include:
- Unlimited PTO (vacation, sick, personal, 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, and AD&D insurance
- Voluntary life and emergency medical transport options
- EAP program
- 401k retirement savings plan with company match
Classification: Full-time Exempt