About The Role: 

• We're looking for a Staff Software Engineer who wants real ownership in a fast-moving environment. 
• You'll help design, build, deploy, and operate the software that runs Urban Sky's manufacturing operation—a full-stack MRP system that tracks inventory, work orders, bills of materials, quality holds, and serialized parts from receiving through final integration. It's the operational backbone of how we actually build balloons. Because the company is growing quickly, the scope of the role will evolve over time, and you'll have meaningful influence over what we build next and how we build it. 
• You'll work shoulder-to-shoulder with the people using the software every day—manufacturing technicians, logistics coordinators, quality inspectors, and finance. There's no product manager between you and them. You'll learn how parts flow through the building, what makes a quarantine workflow painful at 3pm on a Friday, and how a missed traceability record turns into a compliance problem. Translating messy physical processes into clean software is most of the job. 
• The interfaces you build are for operators, not consumers. A shop-floor tech holding a tablet, scanning a barcode, working through a multi-step assembly procedure—that's your user. Touch targets, scanner integration, and drag-and-drop work instructions matter more than landing-page polish. 
• We operate in an aerospace-regulated environment (AS9100). Every mutation needs an audit trail. Serialized parts need end-to-end traceability. "Move fast and break things" doesn't apply to production data. We still move fast—but with the discipline that comes from knowing a corrupted record can ground a flight. 
• You don't need prior MRP or manufacturing experience. You do need to be excited—or at least not intimidated—by learning a complex business domain alongside the code. 
• If you enjoy small teams and solving ambiguous problems, this role is likely a great fit. 

What You'll Do 

• Our overall software team is roughly 7 people, and this team will be just 2 people, everyone works across the stack. That's not aspirational—it's required. A small team with real ownership only works if everyone can contribute quickly and adapt as the company and product evolve. 
• Senior engineers here build trust by shipping early and expanding their scope through demonstrated ownership. 

What we need you to do right away

• We expect senior engineers to become productive almost immediately. 
• In your first days and weeks, you will: 
  • Set up your environment and start committing code within your first day or two 
  • Learn existing systems by improving them, not by watching from the sidelines 
  • Fix bugs, tighten rough edges, and ship small enhancements to production 
  • Participate in deployments, debugging, and operational workflows 
  • Use AI tools from the start to understand the codebase and accelerate contributions 
  • Ask questions, propose improvements, and engage in technical decisions 
• You won't be waiting for a long ramp period. 
• You'll build context by doing real work that ships. 

What you will grow quickly into

• As you gain context, scope expands fast. 
• Within your first couple of months, you'll be expected to: 
  • Own meaningful areas of our stack across backend, frontend, and infrastructure 
  • Lead design and implementation of projects that may span quarters 
  • Make architectural decisions with an eye toward reliability, operability, and future change 
  • Work directly with operators and stakeholders—often non-engineers—to refine solutions 
  • Drive systems from concept → implementation → production → iteration → support 
  • Continuously simplify, improve, and evolve what you own 
  • Help the team move faster by raising technical quality and reducing friction 
• By this point, you're not just contributing—you're a primary owner. 
• There are no lanes to stay in and no handoffs to hide behind. 
• If something feels confusing to an operator, that's an engineering problem. 
• If a system is brittle, slow, or overbuilt, that's an engineering problem. 
• If a workflow on the shop floor doesn't match the software, that's an engineering problem. 
• If requirements change mid-stream, that's reality—and adapting thoughtfully is part of the job. 
• If AI-generated code is messy, that's also an engineering problem. 
• You'll own systems end-to-end, from design through production and long-term maintenance—even as those systems evolve. 

Our engineering principles 

• These principles guide how we build systems in a fast-moving, real-world environment. 
• Design for operations, not just implementation 
• Software doesn't stop at merge. We design systems that can be deployed, monitored, debugged, and safely operated under changing constraints. 
• Favor simple, adaptable systems 
• Clarity beats cleverness—especially when systems need to change quickly. 
• Own the full lifecycle 
• Engineers are responsible for their systems from design through production, operational support, and ongoing evolution. 
• Build reliability through feedback 
• Observability is a first-class concern. Logs, metrics, and traces help us understand how systems behave as usage and requirements change. 
• Use abstraction sparingly and intentionally 
• Abstractions should make change easier, not harder. If they obscure failures or slow iteration, they're the wrong choice. 
• Scale and evolve based on evidence 
• We increase complexity, performance, and scale in response to real operational needs—not speculative futures. 
• Leverage AI with engineering judgment 
• We use AI aggressively to increase velocity and explore solutions, while remaining fully accountable for correctness and maintainability. 
• Embrace iteration as the default 
• Progress comes from frequent adjustments and steady improvement, not rigid plans. 

AI-assisted development 

• AI isn't supplemental here. It's a core part of our SDLC. 
• We use Claude Code for feature implementation, run automated multi-agent code review on pull requests, and have AI-driven quality checks integrated into CI. A meaningful portion of production code is AI-written and human-shaped. The skill we care about isn't typing speed or autocomplete—it's the judgment to review, restructure, reject, or rewrite AI output until it's correct, readable, and operable. 
• We expect you to: 
  • Use AI tools daily for implementation, debugging, refactoring, and exploration 
  • Adapt quickly as tools, models, and workflows evolve 
  • Apply strong judgment to AI-generated code—you're accountable for what ships, not the model 
  • Use AI to build production systems, not just prototypes 
  • Treat AI as leverage, not a replacement for understanding 
• We care far more about how you use AI than which model you prefer. 

What we are looking for

• This is a senior role. We're optimizing for experience, judgment, and adaptability. 
• You likely have: 
  • 8+ years of professional software engineering experience 
  • Strong fundamentals in system design, data structures, and architecture 
  • Experience building and operating backend systems at scale 
  • Solid instincts for data modeling, schema design, and SQL 
  • Comfort with cloud infrastructure and modern DevOps practices 
  • Experience owning production systems in environments that evolve quickly 
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate as priorities shift 
• You probably enjoy: 
  • TypeScript and modern web development 
  • Designing clean APIs and well-structured monoliths 
  • Thinking carefully about data models, schemas, and migrations 
  • Infrastructure, reliability, and operational excellence 
  • Mentoring others and raising the bar for the team 
• Learning quickly and adjusting course as new information emerges

Technologies (not a checklist) 

• We currently work with technologies such as: 
  • TypeScript / JavaScript 
  • React, Vite, Mantine UI 
  • tRPC for API contracts 
  • PostgreSQL (raw SQL and migrations, not just an ORM) 
  • ClickHouse for analytics 
  • Playwright for end-to-end testing 
  • AWS, Terraform, Docker 
  • CI/CD pipelines 
• You don't need experience with every tool—but you should be comfortable learning new systems as the stack evolves. 

 Benefits 

• Salary $150,000 - $180,000 per year  
• Stock Options 
• Medical, Vision and Dental 
• Unlimited Vacation Days 
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 

About Role: 

Urban Sky’s ideal Quality Manager is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and maintaining the organization’s Quality Management System (QMS) at the new Texas location to ensure compliance with corporate quality policies, industry standards, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations. This role provides site specific leadership for quality assurance, continuous improvement, audits, and cross-functional coordination to ensure product safety, reliability, and conformance. 

Key Responsibilities:  

• Lead and maintain compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, FAA, EASA, and applicable internal, customer, and regulatory requirements. 
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve Quality Management System (QMS) 
• Manage internal, customer, supplier, and regulatory audits, including corrective and preventive actions.  
• Manage Metrology Lab and Calibration Schedules  
  • Strong understanding of flexible material testing preferred. 
• Direct and manage quality control technicians.  
• Operational review board (ORB) managing member. 
• Ensure quality planning and risk management throughout product lifecycle (APQP, FMEA, control plans) 
• Participate in nonconformance management, root cause analysis, and corrective action processes. 
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Program Management, Director’s and VPs to ensure quality objectives are met. 
• Establish and track quality metrics (KPIs) and drive continuous improvement initiatives. 
• Manage supplier quality performance, including audits and performance improvement plans. 
• Ensure proper configuration management, document control, and records retention. 
• Lead, mentor, and develop quality team members. 
• Support customer quality requirements, issue resolution, and performance reviews. 
• Ensure compliance with safety and airworthiness requirements. 
• Compile and present QTRLY QA reviews and presentations in relation to site location. 

Requirements:  

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related field or equivalent experience 
• 5+ years of quality management experience in the Stratospheric Platform industry preferred 
• In-depth knowledge of AS9100 and aerospace regulatory requirements 
• Experience leading audits and interfacing with customers and regulators. 
• Strong problem-solving skills using tools such as 8D, 5 Whys, SPC, FMEA 
• Proficiency with Statistical Software suites such as JMP or Minitab 
• Must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident  
• Must be located near Greenville, Tx or willing to relocate to Greenville, Tx (Area of Northeast Texas) 

Benefits: 

• Salary $90,000 - $130,000 per year 
• Stock Options 
• Medical, Vision and Dental 
• Unlimited Vacation Days 
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 

About The Role: 

We are looking for a Procurement Manager to lead procurement strategy, build out centralized procurement processes and systems, and own vendor relationships with Urban Sky’s key suppliers. In this role you will partner deeply with the critical suppliers whose materials, components, and capabilities directly impact our product quality, production timelines, and mission readiness, while designing the procurement processes and systems needed to scale the function. You will own the relationships with our most important vendors, drive supplier compliance, and establish the procurement infrastructure needed to support current and future purchasing needs. As a manager-level individual contributor, you will have significant autonomy and the ability to make a strong impact across departments, with the potential to build a team over time.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Sourcing, Processes & Systems

• Lead sourcing efforts for Urban Sky’s production materials and components while partnering with other teams on broader procurement needs.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify new suppliers; develop and maintain a strategic sourcing roadmap aligned with production scaling plans and the R&D pipeline.
• Lead the evaluation and implementation of systems to automate procurement processes. Build out scalable procurement processes that support operational and business objectives in a fast-growing setting.
• Develop and document standard operating procedures for the procurement function, ensuring consistency, auditability, and ease of onboarding as the team grows. Help define purchasing policies, approval thresholds, and delegation-of-authority frameworks.

Vendor Relationship Management:

• Serve as the primary relationship owner for Urban Sky’s key suppliers, acting as the strategic point of contact, conducting regular business reviews, and fostering long-term partnerships built on mutual accountability and continuous improvement.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, and contractual terms with key suppliers to optimize cost, quality, and delivery. Manage supplier contracts including NDAs, MSAs, quality agreements, and long-term supply agreements.
• Proactively identify and resolve supply chain risks through close collaboration with vendor partners and development of alternative sourcing strategies.

Forecasting & Procurement Operations:

• Partner with Sales, Manufacturing and Engineering to develop procurement plans that balance materials availability with cash flow management, ensuring production readiness without overcommitting working capital.
• Forecast purchasing, align procurement with production schedules, and track key metrics including supplier scorecards, spend analysis, cost savings, and on-time delivery rates.
• Establish the reporting cadence and dashboards needed to give leadership visibility into procurement performance, supplier health, and spend forecasting.

Compliance & Government Procurement:

• Lay the groundwork for a FAR/DFARS-compliant procurement process, partnering with Finance to develop the policies, procedures, and documentation frameworks needed to support Urban Sky’s growing defense and government contract portfolio.
• Create and maintain procurement documentation standards consistent with government audit requirements.
• Work with the Quality team to drive supplier quality management in alignment with AS9100 requirements. Support management of the approved supplier list, including initial qualification, periodic audits, and ongoing performance monitoring.

Qualifications: 

• 7+ years of progressive experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain management, with at least 3 years in a senior individual contributor or manager-level capacity within aerospace, defense, or a related hardware-intensive industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing strategic vendor relationships, with a track record of building strong, trust-based supplier partnerships and achieving cost savings while maintaining quality.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating cross-functionally with partners across Finance, Sales, Operations, Manufacturing, and Engineering.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and procurement tools, including hands-on experience implementing, configuring, or significantly improving procure-to-pay workflows and demand forecasting capabilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Nice-to-Haves/Preferred Skills

• Experience at a small or emerging aerospace/defense hardware company, including building or significantly scaling procurement functions and processes.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 supplier quality requirements and FAR/DFARS procurement compliance, including experience implementing or managing compliant purchasing processes.
• Experience with CPSR preparation.
• Experience with ITAR/EAR export control considerations as they apply to supplier qualification and contracting.
• CPSM, CSCP, or equivalent professional certification.

Requirements: 

• Must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident 
• Must be located near Denver, CO or willing to relocate to Denver, CO
  • Our office is at 4800 Race St. In Denver, CO and this role is on-site 

Benefits: 

• Salary $110,000 - $150,000 per year  
• Stock Options 
• Medical, Vision and Dental 
• Unlimited Vacation Days 
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 

About Role: 

Urban Sky manufactures one-of-a-kind stratospheric balloons from start to finish. These balloons are made of a unique airtight material and involve long continuous seams. Making balloons involves patterning, seaming, adhesive bonds and some light mechanical work adjoining rigid fittings to the balloons. The balloons are very lightweight and relatively small compared to other stratospheric balloons, but quite large when compared with things like clothing and outdoor equipment. In this job the candidate would be responsible for following detailed work instructions, blueprints and build documentation. The systems the candidate builds would go on to be used in high altitude stratospheric flights.  

In addition to building balloons the candidate will periodically be required to help with other manufacturing tasks such as assembling test equipment, operating test equipment, general shop upkeep, cleaning and maintenance. 

Key Functions:  

• Build Stratospheric Balloons and Associated Accessories
  • Build Stratospheric and Associated Accessories
  • Cut large patterns 
  • Seam patterns together per a proprietary seaming method 
  • Adhesive bonding  
  • Light mechanical work  
  • Light rigging work creating custom cord (light rope) assemblies and attaching to the balloon 
• Work with Operational Review Board (ORB) to help solve problems as they arise with process or product 
• Be willing to work in a team environment committed to excellence and high standard of quality 

Requirements: 

• Integrity and accountability in all things 
• 1+ years of experience in a manufacturing or new development environment (Preferred) 
• Ability to learn and use complex machinery, large and small (all necessary training will be provided) 
• Ability to use small tools and measurement apparatuses 
• A great attitude, willingness to grow and learn, and strong work ethic 
• Able to stand, walk, and stoop; push, pull and lift or lower objects weighing up to 50 lbs 
• Able to work in a development environment with high level of commitment to the team and project success 

Benefits: 

• Medical, Vision and Dental 
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 
• 15 days paid leave, plus paid holidays 

Compensation ranges from ~$20-26/hr based on experience and qualifications.

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 

About The Role: 

Urban Sky is seeking a talented Mechanical Engineer to own the design, development, and fielding of advanced electro-optical imaging systems aboard our stratospheric balloon platforms. Our payloads operate in one of the harshest environments on Earth. They must survive temperature extremes, near-vacuum pressures, and high shock loads while delivering precision performance. This engineer will design systems that integrate optics (both custom and off-the-shelf), sensors, edge compute, 2-axis stabilization mechanisms, and thermal management systems into compact, flight-ready packages. 

The technical challenges are broad, and so is the ownership. This is a hands-on role on a fast-paced, multidisciplinary team. Your work will span the entire development lifecycle, from initial requirements and rapid prototyping through flight testing and production transition. You will work across a range of commercial and defense products that are making real and lasting impacts today. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Translate product requirements and use cases into ruggedized design solutions for a diverse customer base spanning scientific, commercial, and defense applications 
• Design robust, reusable payload structures with an emphasis on protecting critical components and enabling rapid turnarounds between flights. Perform structural analysis and testing to validate designs against flight load cases 
• Support the design and development of 2-axis gimbal systems including structure design, motor and reducer selection, and feedback architecture to achieve precise pointing control 
• Select materials appropriate for stratospheric conditions balancing strength, thermal performance, weight, and cost constraints
• Design and analyze thermal management solutions to maintain components within operating temperature ranges across stratospheric conditions. Develop and verify thermal models against test and flight data to build confidence in system performance
• Contribute to payload architecture decisions, including evaluating new sensor technologies, identifying candidate hardware for integration, and proposing new payload concepts or capability expansions 
• Plan and execute benchtop testing of subsystems and prototypes to validate functionality prior to flight testing 
• Conduct environmental testing including thermal cycling, vacuum exposure, and shock qualification. Support field integration and test campaigns, incorporating operational feedback into design iterations 
• Develop and execute verification and validation plans, prepare prototypes for flight, and maintain flight safety documentation 
• Analyze flight performance data to identify issues and drive design iteration. Lead post-flight hardware teardowns and failure investigations to determine root cause and inform corrective actions
• Maintain thorough engineering documentation including design/analysis rationale, trade studies, assembly procedures, test reports, and lessons learned to support knowledge retention and production readiness 
• Generate high-quality engineering drawings with appropriate use of GD&T when necessary

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline; advanced degree is a plus but not required 
• 2-5 years of experience in mechanical design and integration of electromechanical systems operating in real-world environments 
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., OnShape, SolidWorks, or Fusion 360) for designing complex mechanical systems 
• Strong knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes, including CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, 3D printing, and injection molding 
• Intuitive understanding of tolerance analysis, design for manufacturing (DFM), and design for assembly (DFA), with the ability to design parts and assemblies that are practical to build, inspect, and maintain 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience using hand calculations and simulation tools to inform design decisions and the ability to systematically troubleshoot hardware issues when things don't go as planned 

Nice-to-Haves/Preferred Skills: 

• Knowledge in optics, optomechanics, or imaging systems 
• Experience working in aerospace or satellite development 
• Experience developing mechanisms, motion control applications, or gimbal systems  
• Familiarity with integrating mechanical systems with electronics and sensors 
• Knowledge of stratospheric or high-altitude conditions and their impact on mechanical systems 
• Experience with cable and wire harness design 
• Familiarity with Linux or embedded systems 

Requirements: 

• Must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident 
• Must be located near Denver, CO 

Benefits: 

• Medical, Vision and Dental 
• Unlimited Vacation Days 
• Parental Leave 
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 
• Stock Options 

About The Role: 

Urban Sky is seeking a Director of Product: Stratospheric Defense Systems to lead our Product team in Denver, CO. In this role, you will be responsible for leading the end-to-end product strategy, development, and lifecycle management of our stratospheric balloon systems, payloads, software and data products. You will be a team of one (i.e., the only Product person at the Company). You will play a critical part in defining product roadmaps, aligning customer needs with technical capabilities, and driving innovation to expand our impact in aerospace and earth observation. Collaborating closely with engineering, operations, and business teams, you will ensure our products deliver exceptional value to commercial and government customers, including the DoD and NASA.  

Key Responsibilities: 

• Develop and execute a comprehensive product strategy and roadmap for Urban Sky’s stratospheric balloon systems, payloads, software and data products, ensuring alignment with company goals and market demands. 

• Interact routinely with end-users, principally including the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, NASA, and others.  

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, operations, and sales, to translate customer requirements into innovative, scalable, and reliable product solutions. 

• Oversee product lifecycle management, from ideation and development to launch and iteration, while monitoring performance metrics and customer feedback to drive continuous improvement. 

• Develop detailed resource and project management plans and work with our finance department to develop financial models to support justification for resourcing net new projects (or redirecting resources to higher priority projects, products, or features.)  

• Act as a key point of contact for strategic customer relationships, including government partners like the DoD and NASA, to ensure product offerings meet their mission-critical needs. 

• Lead relationships and dialogue with third-party DoD payload providers (i.e., C5ISR systems), ensuring successful integration of priority third-party payloads onto Urban Sky’s Microballoon platform. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aerospace, business, or a related field; advanced degree (MBA or technical MS) preferred. 

• Direct experience working with and developing Department of Defense (DoD) products, including familiarity with DoD procurement processes, requirements, and mission objectives. 

• Thorough understanding of DoD requirements with regards to networking, cybersecurity, regulations, etc.  

• 7+ years of product management experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership role, ideally in aerospace, remote sensing, or a related high-tech industry. 

• Proven track record of developing and launching complex technical products, with strong understanding of hardware and software integration. 

• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders, manage cross-functional teams, and build relationships with government and commercial customers. 

Nice-to-Haves/Preferred Skills: 

• Direct experience working with the U.S. Army Special Operations Forces (SOF), including familiarity with their procurement processes, requirements, and mission objectives. 

• Background in stratospheric or high-altitude systems, remote sensing, or earth observation technologies. 

• Knowledge of government contracting, compliance standards, or regulatory frameworks relevant to aerospace and defense industries. 

• Established network within the aerospace or government sectors to facilitate partnerships and customer engagement. 

Requirements: 

• Must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident 

• Must be located near Denver, CO 

Benefits: 

• Equity Compensation in the form of Company Stock Options

• Medical, Vision and Dental 

• Unlimited Vacation Days

• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 

About The Role: 

The Head of Ground Support Systems will own the design, development, and productionization of all mechanical ground support equipment (GSE) that interfaces with Urban Sky’s flight systems but stays on the ground. This is the hardware that makes flight possible: high-pressure gas fill systems and plumbing, pressurized gas storage assemblies with regulators and complex packaging, ground anchors, mechanical releases, weight plate hold-downs, truck-mount anchors with balloon collars, and any other heavy mechanical system that touches a flight vehicle without leaving the surface of the earth.

This work is serious engineering. Many of these systems involve high-pressure gas handling where a packaging failure or an accidental impact — a forklift strike, a dropped component, a field mishap — can have real safety consequences. You will be responsible for designing systems that are robust, safe, and field-ready, while still moving at the pace of a startup that is leading the commercialization of the stratosphere.

You will operate with a high degree of autonomy. Urban Sky’s engineering culture is built around Responsible Engineers who act as CEOs of their products — owning every decision from concept through production. You will define the technical roadmap for ground support systems, set priorities, drive designs to completion, and ship products. Many of these systems are sold to customers as part of Urban Sky’s broader ecosystem, so the quality bar is high and the iteration pace is fast.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead the design, analysis, prototyping, and productionization of all mechanical ground support equipment, including high-pressure gas fill hoses and plumbing assemblies.
• Design and develop high-pressure gas storage systems with integrated plumbing, regulators, relief devices, and packaging that accounts for field hazards such as vehicle impacts and rough handling.
• Engineer ground anchoring systems, mechanical releases, weight plate hold-downs, truck-mount anchors, balloon collars, and other heavy mechanical devices used during launch and recovery operations.
• Own the full product lifecycle for GSE hardware — from requirements definition and concept development through detailed design, test, qualification, and production release.
• Perform structural, pressure, and thermal analyses to validate designs and ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards for high-pressure gas systems.
• Drive design-for-manufacturability and design-for-field-serviceability into every product, ensuring systems can be built efficiently and maintained by field crews.
• Develop and maintain safety documentation, operating procedures, and hazard analyses for all ground support systems involving pressurized gases or heavy mechanical loads.
• Collaborate with flight systems engineers, field operations, and manufacturing to ensure GSE interfaces cleanly with flight hardware and meets operational requirements.
• Rapidly iterate on designs through hands-on prototyping, testing, and real-world field validation — building and shipping products at startup speed.
• Support customer-facing product delivery when GSE is sold as part of Urban Sky’s commercial systems, ensuring products meet quality and reliability standards.

Who you Are:

• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency required.
• A mechanical engineer who deeply understands high-pressure gas systems, heavy mechanical assemblies, and robust product design. This is your craft and you are deeply skilled at it.
• A self-starter who thrives with autonomy and doesn’t need someone to tell you what to build next. You see what needs to be done, you make a plan, and you execute.
• Someone who thrives in ambiguity and moves fast. You are comfortable making decisions with incomplete information and iterating toward the right answer through building and testing.
• A builder who ships. You are not interested in analysis paralysis or endless design reviews. You want to get hardware into the real world, learn from it, and make it better.
• Safety-conscious by instinct. You understand that high-pressure gas systems and heavy mechanical equipment demand rigorous engineering discipline, and you bring that discipline naturally without slowing down.
• Hard-working and highly motivated. You want to be part of a company that is commercializing the stratosphere, and you are ready to work hard to make that happen.
• Scrappy and resourceful. You can work within constraints, find creative solutions, and deliver results without waiting for perfect conditions or unlimited budgets.
• A strong communicator who can work across teams, write clear documentation, and explain technical decisions to both engineers and non-engineers.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline; advanced degree is a plus but not required.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical design and engineering, with significant hands-on work involving high-pressure gas systems, pressure vessels, regulators, and associated plumbing.
• Strong foundation in solid mechanics, structural analysis, and pressure system design. Proficiency with CAD tools (SolidWorks preferred) and FEA software.
• Experience designing products for field use in demanding or uncontrolled environments — not just lab hardware.
• Demonstrated ability to take products from concept through production, including design-for-manufacturing considerations.
• Familiarity with relevant codes and standards for pressure systems (e.g., ASME BPVC, CGA, DOT) is strongly preferred.
• Experience with anchoring systems, mechanical releases, or heavy rigging is a plus.
• Comfortable with hands-on prototyping, shop work, and field testing.
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency required.

Requirements: 

• Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Must be located near Denver, CO
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance may be required for certain programs 

Benefits: 

• Medical, Vision and Dental 
• Unlimited Vacation Days 
• Parental Leave 
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 
• Stock Options 

About The Role: 

Urban Sky is seeking a Payload Integration & Customer Success Engineer to serve as the primary interface between our customers and our stratospheric balloon platform. This is a highly cross-functional role centered on ensuring that third-party payloads are successfully integrated, qualified, and operated aboard our mHAB (micro High-Altitude Balloon) systems. You will be a trusted technical partner for our customers, many of whom have existing payloads not yet designed for the stratospheric environment, and will guide them from initial interface design through flight operations.

This role demands the mindset of a systems engineer and the heart of a customer advocate. At times you will function as a deputy project lead, independently coordinating across customers, vendors, and internal teams. You will be in the field, at launches, and at customer sites, ready to support at a moment's notice. Above all, you will live, eat, and breathe the success of our customers.

Key Responsibilities: 

Customer Integration & Technical Support

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customers integrating third-party payloads onto Urban Sky's balloon platforms
• Guide customers through mechanical interface design, including structural provisions for stratospheric shock loads, thermal environments, and near-vacuum pressure conditions
• Review and provide feedback on customer payload designs to ensure compatibility with Urban Sky's mHAB systems and the stratospheric environment
• Support customers in developing environmental design provisions so that payloads can survive and operate in the stratosphere

Integration, Test, & Verification

• Lead and support payload integration checkout activities, including mechanical fit checks and functional verification
• Execute and coordinate shock load testing and environmental qualification testing for customer payloads
• Support flight testing and post-flight assessment, working closely with our flight operations team
• Develop and maintain integration procedures, test plans, and technical documentation

RF & Communications

• Support customers requiring RF solutions, including tactical direct line-of-sight radio and SDR (Software Defined Radio) integrations
• Provide guidance on mechanical interfacing for antenna systems, antenna selection and optimization, and RF isolation techniques
• Interface with HUSKY bus integration, including power distribution, communications connectivity, and data relay and/or backhaul

Field Operations & Logistics

• Travel with customers and join them in the field for launches, demonstrations, and field exercises
• Coordinate logistics for customer events: travel arrangements, timelines, event preparation, and on-site provisions
• Build and maintain a deployable field provisions to ensure customers and Urban Sky team members can operate with all necessary provisions in the field
• Maintain the payload integration facility - keeping it clean, organized, and stocked with the tools and hardware customers need

Program & Customer Relationship Management

• Act as project lead for customer payload integration programs, independently managing customer and vendor coordination
• Proactively identify customer needs before they arise and take initiative to address them
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve the customer experience throughout the integration and operations lifecycle
• Document procedures, integration guides, and lessons learned to build institutional knowledge and improve repeatability

Qualifications: 

• 5+ years of engineering experience with a strong mechanical engineering foundation
• Demonstrated experience supporting integration and test programs, including environmental or structural testing
• Systems engineering mindset with the ability to independently lead customer and vendor coordination
• Strong RF knowledge, including experience with tactical radios, SDR solutions, antenna selection, and RF isolation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable writing procedures, technical documentation, and customer-facing materials
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage logistics and coordinate details across multiple concurrent programs
• Self-driven, proactive, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced startup environment with ambiguous requirements
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently, including on short notice, for field operations and customer site visits

Nice-to-Haves/Preferred Skills: 

• Experience working with defense customers or in a defense-adjacent environment
• Familiarity with network architectures, Ethernet communications, and power systems in embedded or payload contexts
• Experience with stratospheric, high-altitude, or aerospace payload integration
• Prior experience in a startup environment
• Background in program or project management

Requirements: 

• Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Must be located near Denver, CO
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance may be required for certain programs 

Benefits: 

• Medical, Vision and Dental 
• Unlimited Vacation Days 
• Parental Leave 
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 
• Stock Options 

About The Role: 

Urban Sky is seeking an Embedded Firmware Engineer to own the technical development and product evolution of our HUSKY bus platform – the backbone of our stratospheric flight systems. HUSKY provides integrated power distribution, Ethernet-based communications, and onboard compute for our balloon vehicles and customer payloads. This role sits at the intersection of firmware engineering, systems architecture, and product development.

As the product lead for HUSKY, you will work closely with the portfolio manager to drive R&D iteration cycles from architecture through validation and handoff to manufacturing. You will also interface directly with defense customers, supporting integration, network accreditation, and cybersecurity compliance requirements. This is a senior, high-ownership role for an engineer who thrives in a vertically integrated startup where decisions at the firmware layer have direct consequences on flight safety, mission success, and customer outcomes.

Key Responsibilities: 

HUSKY Bus Product Ownership

• Serve as the technical product lead for the HUSKY bus platform, owning the firmware architecture and driving iterative development cycles in collaboration with the portfolio manager
• Define firmware requirements with the portfolio manager, as informed by hardware trade studies, system-level constraints, and customer mission needs
• Lead design reviews, architecture decisions, and trade space analyses for new HUSKY revisions
• Manage the transition of validated designs from R&D into the manufacturing pipeline, ensuring design-for-manufacturability and documentation completeness
• Maintain version-controlled firmware baselines and establish robust release processes and configuration management practices
• Manage and develop firmware configuration tools to enable an automated customer interface

Embedded Firmware Development

• Design, develop, and verify embedded firmware for real-time systems operating in the stratospheric environment, including power management, communication schemas, network architecture, and compute subsystems
• Develop and maintain firmware for low-level hardware interfaces including I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, and Ethernet
• Implement and optimize RTOS-based or bare-metal firmware for microcontrollers and FPGAs as appropriate
• Ensure firmware robustness for operation in extreme stratospheric conditions: low temperatures, low pressure, radiation effects, and power constraints
• Develop and execute firmware-level unit tests, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test benches, and integration test procedures

Systems Architecture & Model-Based Development

• Define and document the HUSKY system architecture, including interface control documents (ICDs), data flow diagrams, and power budgets
• Apply model-based systems engineering (MBSE) principles to capture system behavior, manage requirements traceability, and support design verification
• Develop and maintain network topology models covering onboard Ethernet, serial communications, and payload interfaces
• Collaborate with mechanical and electrical engineers to ensure firmware design is tightly coupled with hardware constraints and thermal/power profiles

Electrical Engineering Interface

• Leverage a strong working knowledge of electrical engineering principles to inform firmware design decisions, including signal integrity, power sequencing, and peripheral driver development
• Partner with PCB designers and electrical engineers to review schematics, validate hardware bring-up, and debug hardware-firmware interaction issues
• Participate in hardware trade studies and component selection decisions where firmware implications are significant

Defense Customer & Cybersecurity Support

• Serve as a technical point of contact for defense customers integrating with the HUSKY bus, supporting requirements definition, interface documentation, and integration activities
• Support defense cybersecurity and network accreditation efforts, including Risk Management Framework (RMF) processes, STIGs, and authority-to-operate (ATO) activities
• Implement and maintain security controls for networked operational systems, including secure boot, encrypted communications, and access control
• Interface with government program offices and defense contractors in a professional and technically credible manner

Flight Safety & Reliability

• Design firmware with flight safety as a primary constraint, including watchdog management, fault detection and isolation, graceful degradation, and safe-state behaviors
• Conduct failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) at the firmware and system level to identify and mitigate risk
• Support field operations and anomaly investigations, providing rapid firmware diagnostics and patching as needed
• Maintain thorough documentation of known failure modes, workarounds, and operational limitations

Field Operations & Communications Exercises

• Support field test flights and customer demonstrations, providing on-site firmware expertise to ensure HUSKY bus systems perform reliably throughout all phases of flight operations
• Lead network integration communication exercises with defense customers, evaluating security boundaries, verifying data flows across the HUSKY bus, and validating that network segmentation and access controls perform as designed under operational conditions
• Document exercise findings, network architecture decisions, and security boundary assessments; communicate results clearly to both internal engineering teams and defense customer stakeholders
• Coordinate with the flight operations team and customer representatives to plan and execute pre-flight network checkout procedures, ensuring all payload communications and security configurations are verified prior to launch

Qualifications: 

• 5+ years of embedded firmware engineering experience, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior individual contributor capacity
• Proficiency in C and C++ for embedded targets; Python scripting for test automation and tooling is a plus
• Strong understanding of network topology, including Ethernet, TCP/IP, UDP, and serial communications protocols
• Demonstrated experience with systems architecture, requirements development, and interface definition
• Working knowledge of electrical engineering fundamentals sufficient to read schematics, debug hardware, and drive hardware-firmware co-design
• Experience with version control (Git), CI/CD pipelines for embedded targets, and configuration management
• Excellent technical communication skills; able to produce clear architecture documents, ICDs, and test reports
• Self-directed and capable of managing multiple concurrent workstreams in a fast-paced environment

Nice-to-Haves/Preferred Skills: 

• Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools such as Cameo, MagicDraw, or equivalent
• Background working with defense customers or on DoD programs; familiarity with RMF, CMMC, and ATO processes
• Experience with cybersecurity controls for networked embedded systems, including NIST SP 800-171 or STIG compliance
• Familiarity with aerospace or high-altitude platform avionics, including stratospheric balloon, UAS, or small satellite systems
• Experience with FPGAs (Xilinx/AMD or Intel/Altera) and HDL development (VHDL or Verilog)
• Background in power electronics firmware, including battery management, solar charging, or DC-DC converter control
• Experience bringing hardware-firmware products from R&D through manufacturing transition
• Startup or small-team engineering experience

Requirements: 

• Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Must be located near Denver, CO
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance may be required for certain programs 

Benefits: 

• Medical, Vision and Dental 
• Unlimited Vacation Days 
• Parental Leave 
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 
• Stock Options 

About The Role: 

The Flight Operations Specialist reports to the Head of Flight Operations and is part of the team that manages and executes Urban Sky stratospheric flight operations. This position is based in Denver, CO and requires strong field experience, discretion and judgment while launching, tracking, and retrieving high-altitude balloon systems for various applications to deliver crucial internal and customer data. Extensive overnight travel (up to 100%) is required (CONUS and occasionally OCONUS).  

The work schedule is dynamic, at times unpredictable, and subject to change based upon the operational needs of the company and our customers. Evenings/nights/weekends as required depending on flight schedule, surge periods, weather, etc. 
 
Work days can consist of long hours driving or long days hiking in the field, or a combination of both. 12-16 hour days are not uncommon on mission days, however not every day will involve flying as operations are dependent on weather conditions, customer support and R&D schedule. 

As a Flight Operations Specialist at Urban Sky, you will play a vital role in the successful execution of high-altitude micro-balloon flight systems for various missions. In general, the ideal candidate is comfortable working both individually and as part of a team. Able to provide continuous effort to improve operations, streamline processes, work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality customer service. Be an overall team player and participate in special projects and other duties as required.  

Key Functions: 

• Launch and Recovery Operations: Perform physical launch and recovery of micro-balloon flight systems, adhering to safety protocols and guidelines. 

• Vehicle Operation: Safely operate and maintain company vehicles during deployments, which can involve long-distance driving for both launch locations and chase/recovery activities. 

• On-Call Readiness: Be available for rapid deployment with less than 24 hours' notice, traveling extensively throughout the Continental U.S. for periods ranging from a few days to a few weeks. 

• DoW/Customer Support: Comfortable working with military/government clients, supporting, organizing, and ensuring the success of their CONOPs. 

• Customer Training: Become a subject matter expert to educate on the physical employment of Urban Sky flight systems and software.  

• Communication and Responsiveness: Carry and maintain a smartphone at all times when On-Call, responding promptly to notifications. Demonstrate proficiency in Urban Sky technology for flight tracking and communication. 

• Field Presence: Exercise sound judgment, at times in ambiguous situations, as well as navigating field hazards, respecting private property, and representing Urban Sky professionally when interacting with third parties such as property owners, law enforcement, and customers. 

• Work Environment: Work flexible hours, including long days driving or hiking in the field. Actively participate in travel planning and authorization processes. 

• Equipment Handling: Load and unload heavy compressed gas cylinders, operate various transportation modes (4x4 vehicles, ATVs, hike on foot), and, if necessary, coordinate helicopter rides for recovery operations. 

• Documentation and Reporting: Clearly document, video, and photograph balloon, payload, and recovery sites. Follow documented test plans and procedures for R&D missions. Provide detailed reports on flight operations and equipment observations. 

• Logistics Management: Handle reverse planning of flown hardware and essential data, ensuring timely delivery to Urban Sky HQ for processing and customer delivery. 

Required Skills & Knowledge: 

• Physical Fitness and Endurance: Possess the physical fitness required to work outdoors in challenging environments for extended periods (8 hours or more per day), with the ability to lift up to 50 pounds independently. 

• Driving Proficiency: Hold a current and valid driver's license with an insurable Department of Motor Vehicle record, excluding minor driving offenses. Comfortable operating full-size and Super Duty pickup trucks in various environments, including urban and remote/off-trail settings. 

• Tool Proficiency: Familiarity with basic hand and power tools, demonstrating the ability to work with and operate them effectively. 

• Technical Aptitude: Ability to learn and comprehend the function and vocabulary of flight systems, with a keen interest in understanding technical aspects. 

• Communication Skills: Demonstrate clear and concise written and verbal communication skills, providing constructive feedback to Urban Sky Management, Engineering, and Operations Teams. 

• Computer Literacy: Strong computer and data entry skills, with the ability to navigate technology platforms efficiently. 

• Process Orientation: Ability to document, follow, and improve standard operating procedures, ensuring consistency and efficiency in operations. 

• Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional teamwork, customer relationship, and interpersonal skills, fostering a collaborative work environment. 

• Discretion and Decision-Making: Exercise discretion with sensitive customer and company information, coupled with excellent decision-making skills when interacting with the public. 

• The ideal candidate will bring a blend of physical capability, technical acumen, and effective communication skills to contribute to the success of Urban Sky's operations. 

Physical Requirements: 

• Standing, Walking, Sitting, Carrying, Climbing, Balancing 

• Crouching, Pulling, Stooping, Kneeling, Reaching 

• Handling, Fingering, Feeling 

• Lifting objects weighing 50-80 pounds 

• Visual Requirements (Far acuity, Near acuity, Depth Perception, Field of Vision, Accommodation, Color Vision) 

Cognitive Requirements: 

• Mathematical reasoning 

• Memorization 

• Oral Comprehension 

• Spatial Orientation 

• Written Comprehension 

Nice-to-Haves: 

• Aviation, UAV or Flight Operations Experience 

• Experience working in small teams 

• Outdoor experience/hobbies, or remote survival training 

• Field Operations 

• Airframe/Avionics background 

• Electronics or mechanical experience 

• Work with Compressed Gas and Equipment to include Helium and Hydrogen 

• WFR/WFA certification 

• MS Office Suite and Slack 

Desired Candidate Qualities: 

• Humble and Open-Minded: Approachable and receptive to suggestions and training, regardless of experience level. 

• Team Player: Demonstrate respect and professionalism within a team setting, fostering a collaborative work environment. 

• Safety-Focused: Maintain a safety mindset, consistently performing risk assessments in response to changing conditions. 

• Selfless Attitude: Display a selfless attitude, readily jumping in to contribute where needed. 

• Resilient and Positive: Stay positive in challenging situations and uncomfortable conditions, exhibiting a "go with the flow" attitude. 

• Adaptability: Comfortably handle unexpected and exciting situations, as well as routine tasks such as long hours of driving through diverse environments. 

• Endurance and Flexibility: Willingness to work in various weather conditions, including rain, snow, and extreme temperatures. Comfortable with extended periods on the road, ranging from weeks at a time. 

• Self-Starter and Organized: Possess a self-starter mentality, coupled with discipline and organizational skills. 

• Attention to Detail: Demonstrate a strong attention to detail in all aspects of work. 

• Situational Awareness: Exhibit excellent situational awareness and maintain composure under pressure. 

• Good Judgment: Display good judgment when confronted with ambiguous situations. 

• Hands-On and Analytical: Be hands-on and eager to learn, with an analytical and open-minded approach to problem-solving. 

Education: 

• Undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, technical/rade School, military training/service, or equivalent experience. 

Benefits: 

• Salary will be $85,000 - $95,000 per year + performance bonus structure  

• We are required to post this salary range per Colorado law. Your salary will be determined based on your abilities and experience. 

• Stock Options 

• Medical, Vision and Dental 

• Unlimited Vacation Days 

• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 

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 The Role: 

Urban Sky is seeking a Director of Marketing & Communications to join our team in Denver, CO. In this role, you will lead and execute the company’s marketing and communications strategy, serving as a one-person team responsible for both strategic vision and hands-on tactical implementation. You will play a critical part in building Urban Sky’s brand, driving lead generation, and communicating our mission to diverse audiences, including commercial clients and government partners. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead Marketing Strategy and Execution: Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy as a one-person team, balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution of marketing tactics. 

• Create Marketing Materials: Write compelling copy, design visuals, and produce marketing collateral for the company, including product marketing materials tailored to stratospheric balloon systems and data services. 

• Develop Messaging Campaigns: Craft targeted messaging campaigns to engage end-users, highlighting Urban Sky’s unique value in applications like wildfire monitoring and urban mapping. 

• Drive Digital Campaigns: Design and manage digital marketing campaigns to generate leads, utilizing SEO, social media, and other channels to reach commercial and government audiences. 

• Lead Website Design and Messaging: Oversee the design, content, and messaging of Urban Sky’s front-facing website to ensure it reflects the brand and communicates value propositions effectively. 

• Manage Public Relations: Develop and execute PR strategies to support business goals, including media outreach and storytelling to elevate Urban Sky’s presence in aerospace and technology sectors. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field. 

• 7+ years of experience in marketing and communications, with at least 3 years in a leadership or strategic role. 

• Proven ability to work independently, managing both high-level strategy and detailed tactical execution. 

• Strong skills in copywriting, graphic design, and digital marketing tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Google Analytics, or similar). 

• Experience developing and managing digital campaigns for lead generation. 

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives for diverse audiences, including technical and non-technical stakeholders. 

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, startup environment with a scrappy, hands-on mindset. 

Nice-to-Haves/Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the aerospace, technology, or geospatial industries. 

• Familiarity with government contracting or working with DoD customers. 

• Knowledge of stratospheric or remote sensing technologies. 

• Experience managing PR campaigns or media relations in a B2B or technical sector. 

Requirements: 

• Must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident 

• Must be located near Denver, CO or willing to relocate to Denver, CO
  • Our office is at 4800 Race St. In Denver, CO and this role is on-site 

Benefits: 

• Salary $130,000 - $165,000 per year  

• Stock Options 

• Medical, Vision and Dental 

• Unlimited Vacation Days 

• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 

The Role 

Urban Sky’s Vice President of Engineering will take over leadership of the company’s full engineering organization from the CTO, overseeing the Software Team, Firmware Team, Electrical Engineering Team, Mechanical Engineering Team, and Systems Engineering Integration and Test (SEIT) Team  

This leader will be responsible for unifying these groups under a shared technical and cultural framework, fostering collaboration across hardware and software, and driving products from concept through production with a hands-on, iterative mindset. 

You will report directly to the CTO, inheriting a deeply technical, highly motivated team that values autonomy, ownership, and rapid, spiral development. This is not a process-heavy or bureaucratic organization — this is an engineering culture of building, testing, learning, and improving, quickly and aggressively. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead and unify Urban Sky’s multi-disciplinary engineering teams under one mission-focused organization. 

• Drive product execution from concept through productionization, ensuring rapid iteration cycles that yield real, tested, working systems without design gridlock. 

• Champion spiral development: Build–test–learn–repeat. Minimize paperwork and long analysis cycles; prioritize real-world experimentation and learning. 

• Empower Responsible Engineers (REs): Maintain Urban Sky’s RE model, where individual engineers act as CEOs of their products, owning every decision from design through production. Provide resources, remove barriers, and ensure accountability without micromanagement. 

• Foster technical excellence and practical innovation in both hardware and software domains, with a bias toward pragmatic, test-driven engineering. 

• Partner with company leadership to align technical priorities with company vision and operational goals. 

• Mentor and develop technical leaders across disciplines; build capacity for future growth without compromising agility. 

• Ensure effective cross-functional collaboration between software, firmware, hardware, and systems teams to accelerate integration and testing. 

• Maintain a culture of ownership, urgency, and accountability that matches Urban Sky’s aggressive pace and mission-driven focus. 

Who You Are 

• A hands-on technical leader who has successfully built and shipped complex hardware–software systems. 

• Deep experience in both hardware and software development — and the scars to prove it. 

• A believer in spiral development and rapid iteration, not bureaucratic gates. You know that the fastest way to learn is to build and test. 

• A champion of engineer autonomy. You know how to lead by supporting, not controlling. 

• Someone who thrives in ambiguity, takes ownership, and pushes relentlessly toward working results. 

• A systems thinker with strong instincts for integration, testing, and design–build–test cycles. 

• A builder of people and teams — you know how to align diverse disciplines and personalities around a common goal. 

• A doer and decision-maker, not a theorist. You’ve taken projects across the finish line and know what it takes to deliver. 

Qualifications 

• 10+ years of experience leading engineering teams across hardware and software disciplines. 

• Proven record of delivering complex integrated systems to production or flight. 

• Experience scaling teams and processes in a rapidly evolving, high-velocity environment. 

• Strong technical foundation in mechanical, electrical, firmware, or systems engineering — with working familiarity across domains. 

• Experience in a fast-paced startup that makes hardware-software products 

• Comfortable working in a hands-on, test-driven environment. 

• Excellent communication and leadership skills — able to inspire technical teams and communicate clearly with executives. 

Why Urban Sky 

At Urban Sky, you’ll help shape the next frontier of aviation — not in theory, but in hardware, firmware, and software that’s flying today. You’ll lead a team of passionate, brilliant engineers building systems that operate in challenging environments where everything from component cost, to aviation safety in active class-A airspace matters.

Benefits: 

• Medical, Vision and Dental 

• Unlimited Vacation Days 

• Parental Leave 

• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 

• Stock Options 

About Role:  

Urban Sky designs and manufactures one-of-a-kind stratospheric balloons entirely in our North Denver facility. These balloons are constructed from a unique, airtight fabric and feature long, continuous seams. The manufacturing process includes patterning, seaming, adhesive bonding, and light mechanical assembly to attach plastic fittings to the balloon structure. While the balloons are lightweight and smaller than many traditional stratospheric balloons, they are significantly larger than typical sewn products such as clothing or outdoor equipment.

In this role, the candidate will be responsible for carefully following detailed work instructions and documenting each build step using provided quality and manufacturing templates.

In addition to balloon fabrication, the candidate will periodically support other manufacturing activities, including assembling and operating test equipment, performing general shop upkeep, and assisting with cleaning and maintenance tasks.

Key Functions:  

• Follow detailed work instructions to build balloon assemblies  
• Cut large patterns, and seam patterns together per a proprietary seaming method  
• Adhesive bonding of balloon fabric  
• Light mechanical work attaching plastic fittings to balloons  
• Light rigging work creating custom cord (light rope) assemblies and attaching to the balloon  
• Parachute manufacturing 
• Provide support in the assembly and preparation of balloon kits 
• Follow a manufacturing schedule and prioritize build tasks  
• Inventory Management 

Requirements: 

• 1+ years of experience in a manufacturing or new development environment 
• A “can do” attitude and strong work ethic  
• Able to stand, walk, and stoop; push, pull and lift or lower objects weighing up to 50 lbs  
• Able to work under adverse conditions (e.g., dirty or noisy spaces) 

Nice-to-Haves:  

• Start-up experience 
• Following and providing input to build documentation including work instructions  
• Parts ordering and basic inventory management for tools and parts  
• Candidate does not need to have soft goods experience, majority of these methods can be learned on the job 

Benefits: 

This position is a full-time, hourly position with compensation ranging from $25-$27/hour based on experience. We are required to post this salary range per Colorado law. Your salary will be determined based on your abilities and experience. 

• Medical, Vision and Dental 
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 
• 15 days paid leave, plus paid holidays 

About The Role: 

The Flight Operations Technician reports to the Head of Flight Operations and is part of the team that manages and executes Urban Sky stratospheric flight operations. This position is based in Denver, CO and requires strong field experience, discretion and judgment while launching, tracking, and retrieving high-altitude balloon systems for various applications to deliver crucial internal and customer data. Extensive overnight travel (up to 100%) is required (CONUS and occasionally OCONUS).  

The work schedule is dynamic, at times unpredictable, and subject to change based upon the operational needs of the company and our customers. Evenings/nights/weekends as required depending on flight schedule, surge periods, weather, etc. 
 
Work days can consist of long hours driving or long days hiking in the field, or a combination of both. 12-16 hour days are not uncommon on mission days, however not every day will involve flying as operations are dependent on weather conditions, customer support and R&D schedule. 

As a Flight Operations Technician at Urban Sky, you will play a vital role in the successful execution of high-altitude micro-balloon flight systems for various missions. In general, the ideal candidate is comfortable working both individually and as part of a team. Able to provide continuous effort to improve operations, streamline processes, work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality customer service. Be an overall team player and participate in special projects and other duties as required.  

Key Functions: 

• Launch and Recovery Operations: Perform physical launch and recovery of micro-balloon flight systems, adhering to safety protocols and guidelines. 
• Vehicle Operation: Safely operate and maintain company vehicles during deployments, which can involve long-distance driving for both launch locations and chase/recovery activities. 
• On-Call Readiness: Be available for rapid deployment with less than 24 hours' notice, traveling extensively throughout the Continental U.S. for periods ranging from a few days to a few weeks, and/or supporting local Colorado R&D missions.
• Communication and Responsiveness: Carry and maintain a smartphone at all times when On-Call, responding promptly to notifications. Demonstrate proficiency in Urban Sky technology for flight tracking and communication. 
• Field Presence: Exercise sound judgment, at times in ambiguous situations, as well as navigating field hazards, respecting private property, and representing Urban Sky professionally when interacting with third parties such as property owners, law enforcement, and customers. 
• Work Environment: Work flexible hours, including long days driving or hiking in the field. Actively participate in travel planning and authorization processes. 
• Equipment Handling: Load and unload heavy compressed gas cylinders, operate various transportation modes (4x4 vehicles, ATVs, hike on foot), and, if necessary, coordinate helicopter rides for recovery operations. 
• Documentation and Reporting: Clearly document, video, and photograph balloon, payload, and recovery sites. Follow documented test plans and procedures for R&D missions. Provide detailed reports on flight operations and equipment observations. 
• Logistics Management: Handle reverse planning of flown hardware and essential data, ensuring timely delivery to Urban Sky HQ for processing and customer delivery. 

Required Skills & Knowledge: 

• Physical Fitness and Endurance: Possess the physical fitness required to work outdoors in challenging environments for extended periods (8 hours or more per day), with the ability to lift up to 50 pounds independently. 
• Driving Proficiency: Hold a current and valid driver's license with an insurable Department of Motor Vehicle record, excluding minor driving offenses. Comfortable operating full-size and Super Duty pickup trucks in various environments, including urban and remote/off-trail settings. 
• Tool Proficiency: Familiarity with basic hand and power tools, demonstrating the ability to work with and operate them effectively. 
• Technical Aptitude: Ability to learn and comprehend the function and vocabulary of flight systems, with a keen interest in understanding technical aspects. 
• Communication Skills: Demonstrate clear and concise written and verbal communication skills, providing constructive feedback to Urban Sky Management, Engineering, and Operations Teams. 
• Computer Literacy: Strong computer and data entry skills, with the ability to navigate technology platforms efficiently. 
• Process Orientation: Ability to document, follow, and improve standard operating procedures, ensuring consistency and efficiency in operations. 
• Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional teamwork, customer relationship, and interpersonal skills, fostering a collaborative work environment. 
• Discretion and Decision-Making: Exercise discretion with sensitive customer and company information, coupled with excellent decision-making skills when interacting with the public. 
• The ideal candidate will bring a blend of physical capability, technical acumen, and effective communication skills to contribute to the success of Urban Sky's operations. 

Physical Requirements: 

• Standing, Walking, Sitting, Carrying, Climbing, Balancing 
• Crouching, Pulling, Stooping, Kneeling, Reaching 
• Lifting objects weighing 50-80 pounds 
• Visual Requirements (Far acuity, Near acuity, Depth Perception, Field of Vision, Accommodation, Color Vision) 

Cognitive Requirements: 

• Mathematical reasoning 
• Memorization 
• Oral Comprehension 
• Spatial Orientation 
• Written Comprehension 

Nice-to-Haves: 

• Aviation, UAV or Flight Operations Experience 
• Experience working in small teams 
• Outdoor experience/hobbies, or remote survival training 
• Field Operations 
• Airframe/Avionics background 
• Electronics or mechanical experience 
• Work with Compressed Gas and Equipment to include Helium and Hydrogen 
• WFR/WFA certification 
• MS Office Suite and Slack 

Desired Candidate Qualities: 

• Humble and Open-Minded: Approachable and receptive to suggestions and training, regardless of experience level. 
• Team Player: Demonstrate respect and professionalism within a team setting, fostering a collaborative work environment. 
• Safety-Focused: Maintain a safety mindset, consistently performing risk assessments in response to changing conditions. 
• Selfless Attitude: Display a selfless attitude, readily jumping in to contribute where needed. 
• Resilient and Positive: Stay positive in challenging situations and uncomfortable conditions, exhibiting a "go with the flow" attitude. 
• Adaptability: Comfortably handle unexpected and exciting situations, as well as routine tasks such as long hours of driving through diverse environments. 
• Endurance and Flexibility: Willingness to work in various weather conditions, including rain, snow, and extreme temperatures. Comfortable with extended periods on the road, ranging from weeks at a time. 
• Self-Starter and Organized: Possess a self-starter mentality, coupled with discipline and organizational skills. 
• Attention to Detail: Demonstrate a strong attention to detail in all aspects of work. 
• Situational Awareness: Exhibit excellent situational awareness and maintain composure under pressure. 
• Good Judgment: Display good judgment when confronted with ambiguous situations. 
• Hands-On and Analytical: Be hands-on and eager to learn, with an analytical and open-minded approach to problem-solving. 

Education: 

• Undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, technical/rade School, military training/service, or equivalent experience. 

Benefits: 

• Salary will be $75,000 - $85,000 per year + performance bonus structure  
• We are required to post this salary range per Colorado law. Your salary will be determined based on your abilities and experience. 
• Stock Options 
• Medical, Vision and Dental 
• Unlimited Vacation Days 
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 

About the Role:

We’re always looking for passionate, hard-working, self-motivated members to join our team. If we don’t have an opportunity that matches your background but you’d be passionate about joining our team, drop us a line to connect!