Launch Your Career: Internship Opportunities at Ursa Major
Ursa Major offers a dynamic environment where speed and capability are highly valued, not only in their systems but also in the development of their talent. The internship program attracts bright, emerging engineers from top universities, challenging them with meaningful work and core initiatives. This article delves into the various internship opportunities available at Ursa Major, highlighting the experiences of past interns and the skills and qualifications sought in future candidates.
A Glimpse into the Ursa Major Internship Experience
Interns at Ursa Major are given significant responsibility and trust from the start. Haskins, a former intern, emphasized the exciting nature of the startup environment and the level of responsibility entrusted to interns. The impact of these internships extends beyond the summer, with contributions making a lasting difference.
Anushka Kaluskar, another intern, designed a fixture to improve the transport and assembly of liquid engines, a piece of hardware that remains in use even after her internship concluded. She noted the meaningfulness of creating something that would impact engine construction and usage beyond her time there. Hunter, also an intern, led the development of a dashboard to monitor key data across SRM manufacturing equipment, providing engineers and technicians with a real-time view into performance and aiding in the resolution of issues before they could impede production.
Summer Internship Program Overview
Ursa Major’s Summer 2026 Internship Program provides students with real-world experience in the aerospace and defense industry. Interns contribute to high-impact projects that support the company’s mission and drive innovation in propulsion and advanced manufacturing. These internships are full-time, hands-on experiences located at Ursa Major facilities.
Draper Vehicle Intern
The Draper Vehicle Intern position focuses on contributing to the design, analysis, integration, and testing of a hypersonic vehicle. This role involves working within a small team to develop hardware that pushes the boundaries of reliability and functionality, ensuring Ursa Major's engines remain best-in-class.
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Key Responsibilities
- Designing hypersonic structures, liquid propulsion systems, and propellant management devices, as well as tooling, fixtures, and ground-support equipment.
- Designing and analyzing modifications of existing components and prototypes to increase performance, improve manufacturability, or resolve limitations.
- Developing vehicle manufacturing and systems integration workflows.
- Conducting subcomponent development and acceptance tests.
- Supporting and developing design tools.
- Collaborating with team members to scope, study, and define new and existing hardware features.
Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience in the design and analysis of structures and components.
- Familiarity with ANSYS Mechanical.
- Good proficiency in incompressible and compressible fluid mechanics.
- Experience with CAD tools (e.g., CATIA, NX, SolidWorks).
- Understanding of manufacturing techniques, including machining and additive manufacturing.
- Ability to operate within cross-disciplinary teams and contribute to technical decisions.
Preferred Qualifications
- Exposure to liquid-propellant rocket engines and propulsion systems design.
- Experience with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing per ASME Y14.5.
- Programming experience with Python or Matlab/Simulink.
- Hands-on experience with hardware and design for manufacturing.
- Experience with SMC-S-016 Test Requirements.
- Hands-on experience with hardware and design for manufacturing as part of engineering clubs such as Formula SAE, Rocketry, or Hyperloop.
- Genuine passion in the field of aerospace propulsion.
Program Details
- Location: On-site at the Berthoud, CO facility.
- Duration: Approximately 10-12 weeks.
- Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday.
- Compensation: $29.00/hour (determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities).
Additive Manufacturing Engineering Intern
The Additive Manufacturing Engineering Intern position supports laser powder bed fusion part development and production at Ursa Major's Youngstown, OH facility. This internship offers the opportunity to learn and apply metal 3D printing knowledge, contributing to daily team operations by preparing build files, operating LPBF machines, and post-processing builds.
Responsibilities
- Supporting LPBF component manufacturing.
- Developing guidelines for standardized support structure and general modeling strategies.
- Creating a library of standard witness and mechanical specimen geometries.
- Working alongside additive technicians to operate LPBF machines and post-process builds.
- Setting up and programming additive manufacturing build files.
Required Qualifications
- Pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Materials, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering.
- Hands-on design and operation experience in any category of 3D printing.
- 3D CAD experience.
Desired Experience
- Experience with metal additive manufacturing in the aerospace and/or defense industry.
- Experience preparing build files and operating laser powder bed fusion machines.
- Experience with Siemens NX.
Program Details
- Location: On-site at the Youngstown, OH facility.
- Duration: Approximately 10-12 weeks.
- Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday.
People Operations Intern
Ursa Major also seeks a motivated and detail-oriented People Operations Intern to gain hands-on experience across key HR functions.
Benefits and Perks
Ursa Major offers a comprehensive benefits package, although interns are typically not eligible for these benefits. These benefits include:
- 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 (Traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k))
- Equity Grants in the Company
How to Apply
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by clicking the “Apply Now” link on the Ursa Major careers page. The company is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals.
Ursa Major: Revolutionizing Aerospace and Defense
Ursa Major is dedicated to revolutionizing how America and its allies access and apply high-performance propulsion. The company designs and delivers propulsion and defense systems that address critical national security demands, ranging from hypersonics to solid rocket motors, satellite maneuvering, and launch systems.
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A Culture of Innovation and Inclusivity
Ursa Major fosters a culture of innovation, providing interns with exciting challenges and a supportive team environment. The company is committed to equal opportunity and encourages women and BIPOC individuals to apply, even if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.
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