Aerospace Engineer – Stratospheric Systems

About Urban Sky: 

Urban Sky is a venture-backed aerospace startup that pioneers utilization of the stratosphere and reimagines the way humans view and analyze the earth. We design, build, operate, and sell stratospheric balloon systems, and the data we collect supports a wide range of applications, from real-time wildfire monitoring to urban mapping. Our technology is also employed by government customers including the Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, and others. Urban Sky sends flight vehicles to the stratosphere on a weekly basis. 

Our team consists of engineers, makers, developers, and doers who believe in the power of human potential when passion meets utility within a small, supportive team. At Urban Sky we strive to create a team culture grounded in candor, inclusion, respect and empowerment. 

We aim to build the next chapter of stratospheric history in Denver and are seeking self-starting, open-minded, and hard-working team members. 

About Role: 

Urban Sky is seeking an Aerospace Engineer to help design and advance the next generation of high-performance stratospheric balloon systems. Our ideal candidate has hands-on experience with balloon systems, aerostats, airships, blimps, or similar soft-goods-based systems. A background in soft goods, paired with a strong foundation in physics and material sciences, would be a good fit for this position.  

In this role, you will need to understand material properties such as density, thickness, creep, tensile, elongation, tear, puncture, DSC, melt index, low temp brittleness, UV resistance, stress crack etc. and how to apply them to platform design. You’ll dive deep into the science and art of ballooning, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with trial-and-error testing and first principles thinking. You should be comfortable experimenting with new designs, flying prototypes that may fail (always with safety and regulatory compliance in mind), and embracing innovation at the cutting edge of aerospace. 

Key Responsibilities:   

• Design Cutting Edge Stratospheric Balloon Systems 
  • Use and expansion of the in-house design tool, create mathematical models or other tools to evaluate potential balloon performance 
    • This will include creating and updating material models (over temperature and pressure gradients) based on in-house and in field test data 
    • This will include understanding material process/performance phases and performance effects therein 
    • Design and analyze auxiliary components like structural mounting Points(fittings), Fill Ports, Destruct Devices, and Vents  
    • Design flight hardware including electromechanical assemblies 
  • Participate in the design of heat sealing/bonding systems and other critical equipment 
  • Participate in the design of launch systems and other critical ground equipment 
  • Design and analyze auxiliary components like structural mounting points, fill ports and vents  
  • Design product packaging per internal and external regulatory requirements 
  • Design for and with Manufacturing, Quality, and Customer Teams 
• Support manufacturing engineering and configuration management efforts for the platforms you design. 
  • Have strong configuration management head space in all aspects of R&D design and manufacturing control. 
• Participate and contribute to operation review board (ORB). 
• Understanding of different development cycles and approaches and when to apply them. 
• Participate in customer-facing events as the Balloon Engineering representative as requested by management.  

Qualifications:  

• Experience developing systems made of thin films or fabric 
• Strong understanding of physics principles including gas laws, thermodynamics and aerodynamics 
  • Aerospace/Mechanical dual discipline preferred 
• Strong understanding of mechanical design  
• Strong understanding of material science  
• Strength in mathematics or an ability to develop balloon designs iteratively

Nice-to-Haves / Preferred Skills: 

• Specific experience developing balloon designs that were used in practice (actually flew) 
• Field experience flying balloons 
• Testing Data Evaluation and incorporation into mathematical models 
  • Cold brittleness 
  • Vacuum and / or pressure testing 
  • Modulus 
  • Stress/strain/creep/CTE 
• Understanding of meteorology and product environmental conditions and effects 

Requirements: 

• Must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident 
• Must be located near Greenville, Tx or willing to relocate to Greenville, Tx 

Benefits: 

• Salary $120,000 - $180,000 per year 
• Stock Options 
• Medical, Vision and Dental 
• Unlimited Vacation Days 
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 

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 that they have the skills and the passion necessary to succeed here to apply for this role. 

This position may require the candidate to deal with commodities, software, technology, defense articles, and/or technical data which are subject to the Export Administration Regulations and/or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Additional information may be requested so as to determine whether export authorization is required from the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. If authorization is required, employment will be contingent upon the Company successfully obtaining such authorization from the relevant government agency. 

Urban Sky is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.