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Propulsion Test Engineer Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Test Technician I/II

Durango, CO · On-site

$24 - $39/hr

... propulsion hardware and engineering services for the space industry. Headquartered in Durango ... At Agile, we design, build, and test in-space propulsion systems that give spacecraft the ability ...

Senior Propulsion Engineer

Denver, CO · On-site

$130K - $210K/yr

YOUR MISSION As a Senior Propulsion Development Engineer at True Anomaly, you will be responsible for design, build, and test of multiple propulsion systems including flight systems and ground test ...

Flight Test Engineer

Berthoud, CO · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

As a Flight Test Engineer, you'll serve as the on-site technical authority regarding Ursa Major ... Support integration, checkouts, and static fire testing of hypersonic vehicles and propulsion

Flight Test Engineer

Berthoud, CO · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

We design and deliver propulsion and defense systems that solve the most urgent and critical ... As a Flight Test Engineer, you'll serve as the on-site technical authority regarding Ursa Major ...

Flight Test Engineer

Berthoud, CO · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

We design and deliver propulsion and defense systems that solve the most urgent and critical ... As a Flight Test Engineer, you'll serve as the on-site technical authority regarding Ursa Major ...

Senior Flight Test Engineer

Berthoud, CO · On-site

$121K - $150K/yr

We design and deliver propulsion and defense systems that solve the most urgent and critical ... As a Senior Flight Test Engineer, you'll serve as the on-site technical authority regarding Ursa ...

We design and deliver propulsion and defense systems that solve the most urgent and critical ... As a Senior Flight Test Engineer, you'll serve as the on-site technical authority regarding Ursa ...

Senior Flight Test Engineer

Berthoud, CO · On-site

$121K - $150K/yr

As a Senior Flight Test Engineer, you'll serve as the on-site technical authority regarding Ursa ... Lead integration, checkouts, and static fire testing of hypersonic vehicles and propulsion systems

Senior Propulsion Engineer

Denver, CO · On-site

$130K - $210K/yr

Propulsion test experience including hot-fire or pressure testing, vehicle-level propulsion ... Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering. * 5+ years professional experience in development and ...

Staff Propulsion Engineer

Denver, CO · On-site

$155K - $260K/yr

Propulsion test experience including hot-fire or pressure testing, vehicle-level propulsion ... Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering. * 10+ years professional experience in development and ...

Staff Propulsion Engineer

Durango, CO · On-site

$144K - $200K/yr

... engineering services for the space industry. Headquartered in Durango, Colorado, with expanding ... At Agile, we design, build, and test in-space propulsion systems that give spacecraft the ability ...

Your duties will include the design, manufacture, procurement and test for the propulsion system ... Citizen • Willingness to mentor junior engineers. Desired skills • Proficiency in industry ...

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Showing results 1-20

Propulsion Test Engineer information

See Colorado salary details

$45.7K

$141.8K

$214.5K

How much do propulsion test engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for propulsion test engineer in Colorado is $141,833.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,900.00 and $168,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Propulsion Test Engineer position, and why are they important?

A successful Propulsion Test Engineer typically holds a degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering and possesses strong analytical, troubleshooting, and hands-on technical skills. Familiarity with propulsion system instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and test software (such as LabVIEW or MATLAB), along with certifications like Six Sigma or relevant safety training, are often required. Outstanding attention to detail, communication, and teamwork skills enable effective coordination across multidisciplinary teams. These capabilities are essential to ensure safe, accurate, and efficient propulsion system testing and development in high-stakes engineering environments.

What does a Propulsion Test Engineer do?

A Propulsion Test Engineer is responsible for planning, executing, and analyzing tests of propulsion systems, such as rocket engines, jet engines, or other propulsion components. They design test setups, ensure safety protocols are followed, and collect data to evaluate performance and reliability. Their work involves collaborating with design, manufacturing, and operations teams to validate system functionality and improve designs. They also troubleshoot issues and recommend improvements based on test results. This role requires strong technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and hands-on experience with testing procedures and equipment.

What does a typical day look like for a Propulsion Test Engineer?

As a Propulsion Test Engineer, your day usually begins with preparing and calibrating test equipment, collaborating with engineers and technicians to review test plans, and ensuring all safety protocols are in place. During tests, you'll monitor propulsion systems, collect data, and troubleshoot any technical issues that arise. After testing, you'll analyze data, present findings to project teams, and document results to support further development. The position involves a balance of hands-on work in test facilities and desk-based analysis, often requiring close collaboration with design, manufacturing, and quality assurance teams.

What are the most commonly searched types of Propulsion Test Engineer jobs in Colorado? The most popular types of Propulsion Test Engineer jobs in Colorado are:
What are popular job titles related to Propulsion Test Engineer jobs in Colorado? For Propulsion Test Engineer jobs in Colorado, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Propulsion Test Engineer jobs in Colorado look for? The top searched job categories for Propulsion Test Engineer jobs in Colorado are:
Staff Test Infrastructure & Controls Engineer, Solid Missile Systems

Staff Test Infrastructure & Controls Engineer, Solid Missile Systems

Ursa Major

Berthoud, CO • On-site

$107K - $141K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

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.
Location: Galeton & Berthoud, Colorado
Ursa Major develops, manufactures, and tests solid rocket motors for modern defense applications, with a focus on building a high-performance test and evaluation enterprise that enables safe, repeatable, and scalable propulsion development. The organization is evolving toward a tightly integrated test infrastructure stack spanning facilities, fluid systems, controls, instrumentation, and data systems.
As a Staff Test Infrastructure & Controls Engineer, you will serve as the technical authority for the architecture, integration, and lifecycle strategy for ground test infrastructure used in propulsion testing, including static fire stands, fluid-mechanical systems, ground support equipment (GSE), and integrated controls, and data acquisition systems. You will define and govern system-level design standards, interface architectures, and reliability expectations that scale across multiple test assets and programs.
You will serve as a technical leader at active test sites and field locations, responsible not only for hands-on system build, modification, and troubleshooting, but also for providing guidance on complex engineering approaches across teams, resolving cross-domain integration issues, and improving system robustness through structured root cause analysis and design feedback loops. In collaboration with test technicians, propulsion engineers, EHS and operations teams, you will ensure test campaigns are executed safely and repeatably while continuously improving the underlying infrastructure that enables them.
Key Responsibilities
Integrated Test Systems & Infrastructure Ownership
  • Own end-to-end architecture, design, commissioning, and lifecycle sustainment of scalable propulsion test infrastructure supporting multiple solid rocket motor programs across R&D, qualification, and production acceptance phases
  • Lead design and integration of fluid systems (high-pressure gas, pneumatic, hydraulic, and GSE), including system architecture, safety-critical design decisions, and interface control across mechanical, electrical, and controls domains.
  • Define, design and build industrial electrical and controls architecture for propulsion test facilities, including power distribution, grounding/bonding systems, interlock safety, PLC/controls standards, and facility automation.
  • Own instrumentation and data acquisition architecture across test assets, including sensor strategy, signal integrity standards, calibration frameworks, distributed DAQ system design, and data quality assurance pipelines; ensure decision-grade data reliability from field acquisition through control room consumption.
  • Serve as the technical authority for static fire campaigns, establishing test readiness criteria, integrated system validation strategy, and structuring anomaly resolution to ensure safe operations and high-confidence test outcomes.

Safety and Operational Excellence
  • Partner with EHS to co-develop and continuously improve test safety systems, including hazard analysis standards, operational safety protocols, and compliance frameworks aligned with applicable regulatory requirements, energetic material handling standards, and internal test infrastructure policies.
  • Serve as a technical authority on safety analysis for test range operations, including overpressure, fragment hazard analysis, environmental hazard characterization, and derivation of exclusion zones.
  • Serve as a technical authority and mentor for hazardous test operations involving energetic systems, high-pressure fluids, and integrated controls infrastructure to provide oversight for complex or non-standard test configurations.

Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Influence technical strategy and decision-making across engineering, manufacturing, operations, facilities, and program teams to enable high-velocity test-design-iterate cycles.
  • Assist in strategic planning for long-term test infrastructure evolution, including multi-site facility architecture, capital investment roadmaps, modernization initiatives, and scalability strategies that increase throughput, standardization, and operational resilience across the test enterprise.
  • Mentor and develop engineers across disciplines, providing technical coaching, design reviews, and guidance on systems engineering, controls systems, test operations, and infrastructure reliability.
  • Act as a recognized subject matter expert for propulsion test infrastructure, providing technical consultation to leadership and serving as a key contributor to long-range facility, technology, and capability planning.

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
  • 8+ years of experience in propulsion testing, aerospace systems, energy systems, heavy industry, or other high-consequence hardware environments, with demonstrated progression toward system ownership and technical leadership.
  • Proven experience designing, integrating, commissioning, or operating complex test infrastructure (test stands, GSE, or integrated test systems) for hazardous, high-energy, or tightly coupled electromechanical systems.
  • Strong proficiency in industrial controls and data systems, including PLC-based control architectures, National Instruments (or equivalent) DAQ systems, and 3D CAD tools (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, Inventor, or equivalent)
  • Deep working knowledge of hazardous system domains, such as energetic materials, high-pressure gas systems, cryogenic systems, or industrial electrical power and protection systems, including their design constraints and failure modes.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead execution of complex test campaigns, including test readiness, integrated system validation, operational leadership, and post-test analysis with a focus on safety, repeatability, and data integrity.
  • Ability to obtain explosive permits from the ATF and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Extensive hands-on and architectural experience with static fire test infrastructure, including test stands, hazardous GSE, blast-resistant systems, and integrated fluid, electrical, and controls subsystems in operational test ranges.
  • Proven ability to design and scale novel or non-standard test infrastructure in ambiguous, resource-constrained, or rapidly evolving development environments, with emphasis on robustness, repeatability, and operational readiness.
  • Experience driving multi-year infrastructure roadmaps, capital planning efforts, and facility-scale modernization initiatives, translating test and program needs into scalable, long-term technical architecture decisions.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements
  • Hands-on work in austere and remote propulsion test environments with exposure to loud noise, hazardous materials, outdoor conditions, and hazardous operations.
  • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and operate hand tools and mechanical equipment as needed.
  • Ability to support occasional off-shift, weekend, and remote test operations depending on campaign schedules and program needs.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $129,000 - $161,000, 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.
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.