Director of Operations

Ursa Major · Berthoud, CO

Apply on Ursa Major ↗

Level: Director+
Team: Production
Base pay: $180k–$220k
Degree: Preferred
Experience asked: 6+ years
Industry: Aerospace & defense
Posted: 30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A director-level production role at Ursa Major (aerospace & defense) in Berthoud, CO.

They ask for: 6+ years · degree preferred
Tools it names: MES
Base pay: $180k–$220k

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Production Engineer roles in Colorado: typical posted base $130k–$177k. This one lists $180k–$220k.

Median of the low and high ends of 11 live postings that list pay, out of 14 production engineer openings in Colorado, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Colorado plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 13 other live production postings in Colorado.

Base pay: About 39% above similar roles
Experience asked: Less than usual (6+ vs 8+)

Skills these teams ask for most

Team leadership 50%
Lean 43%
✓ New product launch 43%
EHS / safety 36%
Root cause 29%
Automation 29%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 6+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Ursa Major
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

This plant: Ursa Major in Berthoud

10 other open roles at this site.

Manufacturing Engineer II · Manufacturing
Senior Director, Quality · Quality · Director+
Quality Specialist, Energetics · Quality · Specialist
Supplier Engineering Technician II · Manufacturing
Senior Maintenance Engineer · Reliability · Senior
Industrial Engineer II · Industrial

All 11 roles at Ursa Major →

Full description from Ursa MajorAs posted on their careers site.Show

Key Responsibilities

◆Lead and build the production team to scale manufacturing from conceptual design through high-rate production, focusing on safety, quality, and efficiency.
◆Build high performing engineering teams, including industrial engineering and manufacturing engineering.
◆Lead and grow shop floor teams. Drive cross training, efficient operations, and sustained growth.
◆Set standards for capacity modeling, manufacturing scaling, and industrial engineering across Ursa Major
◆Engage and influence ERP and MES deployment strategy in support of scalability.
◆Implement and refine our novel manufacturing method to meet varying customer demand profiles while ensuring responsiveness and flexibility in production.
◆Drive continuous improvement initiatives that ensure industry-leading safety and quality standards.
◆Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate production

requirements

from the early design phase through to full-scale manufacturing.

✓Collaborate the facilities and logistics to support both development activities and high-volume production, ensuring seamless operation of manufacturing =
✓Foster a culture of operational excellence and innovation within the production teams.
✓Define and track key performance metrics and daily production metrics to track production performance, cost control, and quality assurance, ensuring goals are met or exceeded.

Qualifications

✓6+ years of experience in scaled production, preferably in aerospace, defense, or related industries.
✓Proven track record in leading large-scale, high-volume manufacturing operations, with a focus on safety, quality, and cost-efficiency.
✓Experience in manufacturing of energetics or other safety-critical products is highly desirable.
✓Strong leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to motivate cross-functional teams in a high-growth, fast-paced environment.
✓Exceptional problem-solving and process optimization skills, with a track record of implementing innovative production methods.
✓Ability to navigate complex supply chains and develop strong supplier partnerships.
✓Experience working with government and defense customers
✓Start-up mentality combined with the rigor and discipline needed for high-volume, real-world production.
✓Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

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

Show full 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.

Overview

Ursa is seeking a strong production leader who can lead and build a team to scale production with a focus on safety and best-in-class industrial engineering principles. Ursa has developed a novel manufacturing method that can surge production levels across various products, employing mixed model strategy and early design for manufacturability. This position will heavily influence the standardization and scaling of these production lines. We are seeking a leader who can transform this manufacturing method into high volume (25,000+ units per year in SMS and 500 units we year for HAVOC).

Our operations team is involved with early conceptual designs through high-rate production of motors. This leader will demonstrate a track record of collaborating on scaled production and a desire to implement standards and change. The role will lead the manufacturing operations and industrial engineering teams, our build and mixing operations, logistics, and facilities. Demonstrated performance in this role will lead to operational ownership of additional product lines at the company beyond just solids. This is a high growth role .

Success will be defined by the safe scaling of our products and how well we can exceed customer expectations on quality and cost. This leader must have a start-up mentality with the rigor of real production.

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.