Mechanical Design Engineer 3
United Launch Alliance
Mechanical Design Engineer 3
United Launch Alliance
Rockets for national security and NASA
Requisition ID: 2257
Location: ULA - Denver
Relocation: Yes- Relocation may be available
Travel Requirements: 10%
At ULA, success comes through the efforts of a strong, united team.
Thanks for your interest in United Launch Alliance, the world's most experienced and reliable space launch company! Successfully launching more than 155 consecutive missions with 100% mission success doesn't happen by accident. It's a testament to the commitment and dedication of our team of rocket scientists and support employees combined with the systems and processes we use to pull them together. As a ULA employee, you'll have the opportunity to grow in your career while working in a team-oriented culture that combines technology, innovation, ingenuity and a commitment to the extraordinary. Whether you are in college just launching your career, or, have experience and want to come work with the best rocket team in the world, our unshakable unity yields stronger solutions and better results as we carry out our mission to save lives, explore the universe, and connect the world. Our team is excited to meet you!
The AS&D Vulcan Development team is looking to fill the role of Mechanical Design Engineer 3 to support development of the Centaur V on SLS upper stage. Key responsibilities include:
• Contribute to design and architectural trade evaluations by generating options, assessing impacts, and preparing technical summaries for review.
• Design and develop mechanical and structural components for the Centaur V upper stage, ensuring designs align with vehicle‑level and subsystem requirements.
• Support program planning and execution by maintaining status of assigned tasks, identifying risks, and providing clear technical inputs.
• Prepare engineering content for major program reviews, by developing models, drawings, analysis summaries, and verification documentation.
• Support requirement development and participate in fishbone analyses to clarify design intent, inform verification plans, and strengthen root‑cause evaluation frameworks.
• Participate in development and qualification test campaigns, including test planning, instrumentation support, data review, and post‑test documentation.
• Create and update CAD models, detailed drawings, and GD&T for mechanical hardware throughout the design lifecycle.
• Perform first‑order assessments of mechanical designs to enable efficient integration with analysis teams and improve overall engineering workflow efficiency.
• Assist in troubleshooting hardware issues, supporting non‑conformance dispositions, and participating in root‑cause investigations.
• Interface with manufacturing, quality, and technicians to support hardware build, integration, and test activities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure successful integration of mechanical designs within the broader upper‑stage architecture.
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts in design, documentation, and producibility.
Required Education
Bachelor
Required Years of Experience
Minimum of 4 years of related work experience
Basic Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• Familiarity with structural and mechanical system design, development, and participation in qualification activities
• Ability to execute assigned engineering tasks with growing independence and effective time management
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and applicable industry or government standards
• Significant experience performing CAD modeling and drawing creation
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Experience integrating with multi-disciplinary teams and demonstrated technical coordination skills
• Strong understanding of design for producibility of machined and formed parts
• Proven capability in executing engineering drawing package release
• Strong GD&T interpretation and application skills
• Foundational understanding of aerospace hardware and system level integration and test processes
• Understanding of aerospace hardware production and manufacturing operations
Preferred Qualifications
What makes ULA different?
Because we understand launch success comes through the collective efforts of a team, we seek the best to join us. We value ethics, ingenuity, engagement and professional development for employees at all levels.
We offer our employees competitive pay and benefits including:
Additionally, most salaried ULA team members work a "9/80 schedule," meaning they enjoy every other Friday off.
Benefits and work schedules may vary for union-represented hourly positions and are described in the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
Security Clearance / International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). Therefore, all applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined in ITAR 22 CFR 120.62 (e.g., U.S. Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or protected individual. See 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) and 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) for additional information).
ULA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.
ULA is a participant in the federal E-Verify Program. Posters in PDF format pertaining to this program can be accessed by clicking on the links identified below. E-Verify Participation poster (English / Spanish) and Right to Work Poster (English / Spanish).
Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires covered employees to follow a post selection notification process. A hired candidate may opt out of this process by notifying the hiring manager in writing at the time the offer is accepted.
Rockets for national security and NASA
ULA builds launch vehicles for national security, NASA and commercial space missions. Its rockets are designed to reach challenging and distant orbits and deliver highly accurate payload insertions, offering wide orbital flexibility for different mission profiles. The company’s approach centers on providing reliable, direct-to-orbit capabilities tailored to meet customers’ needs for secure national missions, space agency programs, and commercial launches. The goal is to expand access to space by offering dependable, precise launches that can place payloads into the specific orbits required by each mission.
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