Senior Electrical 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.
Modern aerospace and defense systems rely on highly integrated avionics to provide command and control, guidance, navigation, communications, power distribution, and mission processing. As a Senior Electrical Engineer, you will work as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team to design, develop, integrate, and qualify mission-critical avionics hardware supporting advanced missile and defense systems.
In this role, you will be responsible for the design and development of high-reliability mixed-signal electronic assemblies, including processor and FPGA-based circuit cards, power electronics, digital communications interfaces, and hardware supporting embedded software. You will participate throughout the complete product lifecycle—from requirements development and architecture through design, integration, verification, qualification, and transition to production.
The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in electronic hardware design for harsh environments, understands the unique challenges of aerospace and defense electronics, and enjoys solving complex technical problems while working across multiple engineering disciplines.
Responsibilities:
- Design mixed-signal avionics hardware and guide products through the full development lifecycle, including requirements definition, architecture, detailed design, integration, verification, qualification, and production release.
- Develop high-reliability electronic assemblies including processor- and FPGA-based circuit cards, power conditioning and distribution circuits, communication interfaces, and supporting analog circuitry.
- Support system architecture development, hardware trade studies, component selection, and performance analysis.
- Develop interfaces between electronic hardware, FPGA designs, embedded software, and automated test systems.
- Perform circuit analysis, component derating, worst-case analysis, reliability assessments, and FMECA to ensure robust operation in demanding environments.
- Support schematic capture, PCB layout reviews, design for manufacturability (DFM), design for testability (DFT), and production transition activities.
- Develop and execute hardware integration, verification, qualification, and environmental test plans.
- Investigate hardware failures, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
- Collaborate closely with FPGA, embedded software, systems, mechanical, manufacturing, quality, and test engineering teams throughout product development.
- Support technical reviews, customer design reviews, and proposal activities as required.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering processes, design standards, and development methodologies.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical discipline.
- 5+ years of experience designing electronic hardware for aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability applications.
- Experience designing complex mixed-signal printed circuit board assemblies.
- Strong understanding of analog and digital circuit design, signal integrity, power integrity, grounding, and PCB layout principles.
- Experience designing high-speed digital interfaces and communication buses such as SPI, I²C, UART, CAN, Ethernet, RS-422/485, or similar.
- Experience integrating processor-based, FPGA-based, or embedded electronic systems.
- Familiarity with power conversion, power distribution, and power management circuits.
- Experience performing component derating, worst-case circuit analysis, and reliability analyses.
- Working knowledge of EMI/EMC design techniques and qualification standards (MIL-STD-461, DO-160, or similar).
- Experience supporting hardware integration, verification, qualification, and environmental testing.
Desired Experience
- Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related technical discipline.
- Experience developing avionics for missile systems, guided munitions, aircraft, spacecraft, or launch vehicles.
- Experience designing safety- or mission-critical electronics.
- Experience with FPGA-based systems and integration with embedded software.
- Experience designing high-speed digital and mixed-signal circuit boards using tools such as Altium Designer, KiCad, Cadence Allegro, or Mentor Xpedition.
- Demonstrated experience designing Class 3 PCB assemblies and working with external manufacturing and assembly suppliers.
- Familiarity with IPC standards, NASA-STD-8739, IPC-6012, IPC-A-610, or equivalent aerospace workmanship standards.
- Experience with hardware qualification, environmental testing, vibration testing, thermal testing, and acceptance testing.
- Experience with aerospace and defense development processes, including DO-254 or equivalent hardware development practices.
- Proficiency with engineering analysis and scripting tools such as Python, MATLAB, SPICE, or similar.
- Active U.S. Department of Defense Security Clearance or the ability to obtain one.
Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $118,000 - $147,000, 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.
About Ursa Major
Ursa Major provides a propulsion system for space launch, hypersonics, and national security.
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