Full-Time
Director, Strategic Sourcing & Procurement
Updated on 9/4/2026
Ursa Major
201-500 employees
Develops launch-ready propulsion engines for space
Compensation Overview
$187k - $234k/yr
No H1B Sponsorship
Berthoud, CO, USA
In Person
Travel up to 50% domestically to supplier sites, manufacturing partners, and company facilities.
US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required
Bachelor's, Master's, MBA
 Operations & Logistics (1) |
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- A bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field.
- At least 10 years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain, supplier development, or supplier engineering within aerospace, defense, propulsion, missiles or munitions, space systems, or other highly regulated advanced manufacturing environments.
- Experience leading procurement and supplier management functions in a complex, cross-functional organization.
- Strong expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, cost management, and procurement operations.
- Experience supporting the transition of complex aerospace, defense, propulsion, missile, munitions, or similarly technical hardware from development or new product introduction into production and increasing manufacturing rates.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, technical drawings, specifications, and quality systems.
- Experience with enterprise resource planning or material requirements planning systems and procurement planning tools.
- Strong leadership and team management experience.
- Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
- Must be a U.S. Person, including a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Lead the end-to-end procurement function, including strategic sourcing, supplier management, supplier quality, and supplier engineering initiatives, initially supporting the scale-up of solid rocket motor, hypersonic, and in-space propulsion programs.
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies supporting the transition from development and qualification through low-rate initial production and rate production.
- Establish category management strategies across critical propulsion and aerospace commodities, including energetic materials, specialty chemicals and raw materials, complex machined components, cases and structures, nozzles and thermal systems, castings and forgings, valves, electronics and avionics, and other long-lead components.
- Build and maintain a supplier base capable of supporting aerospace and defense manufacturing requirements for scalability, quality, delivery, and cost targets.
- Lead supplier engineering efforts to improve supplier process capability, product conformity, and manufacturing readiness.
- Manage supplier performance metrics, including on-time delivery, quality performance, responsiveness, and cost-reduction initiatives.
- Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing teams to support new product introduction, qualification activities, first article inspections, and supplier readiness for production ramp.
- Drive supplier development and continuous improvement initiatives using root cause analysis, corrective actions, and process improvement methodologies.
- Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including long-lead material constraints, single-source dependencies, geopolitical concerns, and supplier capacity limitations.
- Lead contract negotiations, pricing strategies, and supplier agreements to optimize cost, lead time, and commercial terms.
- Ensure procurement and supplier management activities comply with aerospace and defense regulatory requirements, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Export Administration Regulations, and AS9100 standards.
- Develop knowledge of enterprise resource planning and material requirements planning systems to improve material visibility, purchasing efficiency, and inventory performance.
- Partner with Quality, Operations, Planning, Program Management, and Finance to align procurement strategies with production and customer delivery commitments.
- Drive process standardization, procurement policy improvements, and scalable systems to support organizational growth.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a procurement and supplier engineering team, fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
- Provide regular reporting and strategic insights to executive leadership regarding supplier performance, material availability, procurement risk, and cost trends.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- An advanced degree, specifically an MBA or Master of Science, in Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations, or a related field.
- Experience supporting solid rocket motors, hypersonic systems, missile systems, propulsion, energetics, munitions, or other high-rate defense production programs.
- Experience with energetic materials, propellant-related raw materials and chemicals, specialty metals, complex machining, cases and structures, nozzles, thermal protection systems, castings, forgings, valves, or aerospace electronics.
- Knowledge of aerospace quality and compliance standards, including AS9100, NADCAP, International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Export Administration Regulations, and Federal Acquisition Regulation and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation requirements.
- Experience leading supplier audits, qualification activities, and corrective action programs.
- APICS or Association for Supply Chain Management certification, such as Certified in Planning and Inventory Management or Certified Supply Chain Professional, and/or supplier quality certifications.
- Experience implementing procurement process improvements and scalable supply chain systems.
Ursa Major Technologies designs, tests, and manufactures propulsion engines for space launch and hypersonics. It provides launch-ready propulsion systems that customers can integrate into rockets or hypersonic platforms, reducing the time and cost to develop propulsion. The company differentiates itself by delivering reliable, cost-effective engines that are ready for deployment, serving private space companies, government agencies, and defense contractors. Its goal is to power space exploration and hypersonic travel by balancing performance, reliability, and cost, helping customers overcome financial, technical, and schedule barriers.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Late Stage VC
Total Funding
$424.5M
Headquarters
Berthoud, Colorado
Founded
2015
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- On August 25, 2026, Ursa Major announced a $2.3 billion SPAC merger.
- The deal includes at least $350 million PIPE capital, with $110 million already funded.
- A July 2026 Navy award pushed MK 104 toward critical design review and static fire.
What critics are saying
- SPAC redemptions can strip cash before a Q1 2027 closing, shrinking expansion plans.
- Defense procurement remains concentrated; Navy and AFRL funding dominate near-term revenue.
- A failed 2027 SPAC closing would leave Ursa Major funding a costly defense expansion privately.
What makes Ursa Major unique
- Ursa Major combines additive manufacturing, liquid engines, and solid rocket motors in one shop.
- Its Longmont campus adds avionics, cleanrooms, and on-site testing for faster iteration.
- The company claims the only reusable hypersonic test engine in the United States.
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Benefits
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Paid Parental and Adoptive Leave
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
Disability Insurance
Life Insurance
Wellness Program
Retirement Savings Plan - Traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k)
Company Equity
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↑ 1%2 year growth
↑ 0%Ursa Major agrees $2.3B SPAC deal to fund hypersonic expansion. Ursa Major said on August 25 it had signed a definitive agreement to merge with Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. III, a transaction expected to take the hypersonics and propulsion company public on Nasdaq in the first quarter of 2027. The deal gives the privately funded defence technology company a route to raise capital for expanded missile and rocket-motor production. The proposed transaction carries an implied post-transaction equity value of about $2.3 billion. It is backed by at least $350 million in committed private investment in public equity, or PIPE, financing, although roughly $110 million of that amount was funded when the agreement was signed. Bleichroeder merger targets Q1 2027 Nasdaq listing The agreement pairs Ursa Major with the special purpose acquisition company Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. III. Ursa Major announced the definitive deal on August 25, setting a Q1 2027 target for completion and a Nasdaq listing for the combined company. The companies have set a target, not announced a completion date; as with SPAC transactions generally, further steps typically remain before closing. The announcement also did not state that the Nasdaq listing had already occurred. $2.3bn valuation includes committed PIPE financing The transaction values Ursa Major at approximately $1.6 billion on a pre-money basis and approximately $2.3 billion post-transaction, alongside at least $350 million in committed PIPE capital. That committed amount was not fully funded at signing: about $110 million had been funded, according to the company's release. The post-transaction valuation therefore does not establish that the full PIPE commitment was funded on August 25. Ursa Major conducts a full-duration static-fire test of its Draper-powered Affordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator. - Source: Breaking Defense Proceeds earmarked for motors, HAVOC and Galeton Ursa Major said transaction proceeds will support production of solid rocket motors, HAVOC, liquid hypersonic engines and space-mobility systems, along with a planned large-scale production campus in Galeton, Colorado. That expansion plan sits alongside a company that, according to Breaking Defense, has raised more than $380 million privately and employs more than 360 people across six facilities. The outlet reported that Ursa Major unveiled its HAVOC hypersonic missile system in February 2026. Ursa Major is pursuing the planned public-market transaction as it works to move those propulsion and hypersonic programs toward larger-scale production. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
Hypersonics, rocket startup Ursa Major to go public in $2.3B deal. 26 August 2026, 00:28 yayınlandı 1min, 26sc WASHINGTON - Ursa Major, a Colorado-based defense startup specializing in hypersonics and solid rocket motors, today announced plans to take the company public next year in a $2.3 billion deal. The agreement involves a merger with the publicly traded Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company backed by Inflection Point Asset Management, which works to take companies public. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, according to a news release. "For eleven years, Ursa Major has invested in the hard work behind that outcome: propulsion, manufacturing, testing, qualification and flight. This transaction will help us turn that foundation into the production capacity our customers need," Ursa Major CEO Chris Spagnoletti said in a statement. "Becoming a public company aligns with our high standard of transparency and accountability, strengthening our ability to deliver responsibly for the warfighter over the long term." Since its founding in 2015, Ursa Major has raised more than $380 million in private capital while also garnering investment from the Defense Department to develop technology for solid rocket motors, space systems and hypersonics. The company currently employs more than 360 people across six facilities, according to the release. US flexes new ship-sinking weapons at summer naval exercises How a new Pentagon memo 'resets' industry requirements, plus highlights from TechNet Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani defense pact to boost Turkish industry, entire trilateral 'ecosystem' Navy establishes new defense industrial base office: Cao Last month, the company announced a $10 million award from the US Navy to advance its MK 104 solid rocket motor through critical design review and static fire. Ursa Major also conducted its first flight of its Draper liquid rocket engine this year as part of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Affordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator effort. In February, Ursa Major unveiled a new hypersonic missile system named HAVOC that the company plans to mostly manufacture in-house and could be built for around $3 million per unit, Spagnoletti told Breaking Defense then. Kaynak: Breaking Defense
Energy briefs-Expanded sanctions, Iran plans to fight, tanker struck. Latest impact on energy prices Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's economic war on Iran included new sanctions on 60 individuals, entities and vessels, but the list did not feature any of the Chinese financial institutions suspected of facilitating Iran's oil trade. Iran answers ** Iran pledged to fight back against expanded U.S. sanctions aimed at isolating its economy, expressing confidence that major trading partners would resist the pressure campaign and saying that Washington was keen to revive talks. ** Experts say the U.S. is wary of Chinese retaliation for any sanctions on its banks ahead of expected talks next month between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with any curbs on China's exports of critical minerals especially sensitive. China said on Tuesday that its cooperation with Iran is conducted within the framework of international law and should not be interfered with or disrupted. Tanker struck ** An unidentified projectile struck an oil tanker off the coast of Oman early Tuesday, a British sponsored maritime security organization said, the latest attack in the U.S.-Iran war over control of the Strait of Hormuz. The UKMTO center said in a statement that it received a report of the strike at about 12:25 a.m. local time. It said the vessel was struck roughly 9 nautical miles northeast of Ash Shishan, Oman. The tanker, which was not identified, sustained damage to its engine room, disabling the vessel. Russian refineries ** Russia has been suffering from a gasoline and diesel crunch since the spring, when Ukraine intensified its drone attacks at Russian refineries, aiming to cripple fuel supply to the front lines and to the domestic Russian market. But Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who is in charge of energy issues including Russia's OPEC+ talks, sought to alleviate concerns on Monday. U.S. energy developments ** The state of Nevada on Monday filed the first court challenge against the Trump administration's plan for managing the drought-stricken Colorado River. Gov. Joe Lombardo announced the litigation filed in federal district court in Nevada, which challenges the plan finalized by the Interior Department last week under the National Environmental Policy Act and Administrative Procedure Act. ** Navitas Semiconductor Corp. is acquiring Claros, a startup with tech that minimizes energy waste at data centers, in a cash-and-stock deal valued at up to $232.8 million. ** nVent Electric is buying Maverick Power, which makes electricity distribution equipment for data centers, in a $1.75 billion deal. ** Ursa Major opened new site in Longmont Aerospace and rocket manufacturing company Ursa Major opened a new facility in Longmont last week that is set to be a major job booster for Colorado, adding 1,850 jobs in Colorado. ** Connecticut and Vermont residents who heat their homes with oil are preparing for an expensive winter as the Iran conflict continues to cause volatile prices. ** A group of 18 property owners sues to stop a proposed 6,100-acre solar project outside Chicago, claiming state and local regulations are unconstitutional for denying their property rights. Jerry Bohnen Jerry Bohnen is the founder and creator of OK Energy Today, which began in 2012. He is an Edward R. Murrow Investigative award winner and has been recognized by other national, regional and state institutions during his 50 years as a broadcast journalist. Contact Jerry at [email protected] August 25, 2026 August 24, 2026 August 23, 2026
Ursa Major Technologies, a US aerospace and defence company specialising in hypersonics and solid rocket motors, has agreed to go public through a merger with Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. III, a SPAC led by Inflection Point Asset Management. The transaction values Ursa Major at approximately $1.6 billion pre-money and $2.3 billion post-transaction. The deal is backed by at least $350 million in PIPE commitments, with roughly $110 million funded at signing. Inflection Point anchors the investment alongside new institutional investors and existing backers including XN. Founded in 2015, Ursa Major has raised approximately $380 million privately and conducted over 5,500 ground tests. The company employs more than 360 people across six facilities. The combined entity will trade on Nasdaq under ticker IPXX, with closing expected in Q1 2027 subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.
Ursa Major Technologies, a US aerospace and defense company specialising in hypersonics and solid rocket motors, has agreed to go public through a merger with SPAC Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. III. The transaction values Ursa Major at approximately $1.6 billion pre-money and $2.3 billion post-transaction. The deal includes at least $350 million in PIPE commitments, with $110 million funded at signing. Inflection Point Asset Management anchors the PIPE alongside new institutional investors and existing backers including XN. Ursa Major may retain up to $345 million in additional proceeds depending on redemptions. Founded in 2015, Ursa Major has previously raised approximately $380 million and employs over 360 people across six facilities. The company has conducted more than 5,500 ground tests and its engines have powered over a dozen successful hypersonic missions. The combined company will trade on Nasdaq under ticker IPXX, with closing expected in the first quarter of 2027.