Pay
$140K–$190K
Type
Full time
Clearance
Not mentioned
Location
Redondo Beach, CA
About the role
Impulse Space is building the next generation of in-space transportation. As a Senior Engineer - Propulsion Systems, you will lead the development of high-performance spacecraft propulsion systems from clean-sheet concept through on-orbit operations.
You will be the Responsible Propulsion Engineer for one of our in-space propulsion systems, which may include bipropellant thrusters, pressure vessels, fluid systems, mechanical hardware, electrical interfaces, and flight or ground software. This is a highly hands-on, cross-functional role for an engineer who can set technical direction, make sound system-level decisions, and deliver hardware in a fast-paced environment.
You will be the Responsible Propulsion Engineer for one of our in-space propulsion systems, which may include bipropellant thrusters, pressure vessels, fluid systems, mechanical hardware, electrical interfaces, and flight or ground software. This is a highly hands-on, cross-functional role for an engineer who can set technical direction, make sound system-level decisions, and deliver hardware in a fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities
- Own propulsion system development across requirements, architecture, design, analysis, implementation, integration, test, and flight operations.
- Lead system-level trades involving fluids, thermodynamics, heat transfer, materials, mechanical design, and operations.
- Define system requirements, interfaces, verification strategies, and configuration baselines.
- Plan and execute development, acceptance, and qualification test campaigns.
- Define build and test scope, sequence of operations, readiness criteria, and technical milestones.
- Review test and flight data, investigate anomalies, and drive corrective actions to closure.
- Identify technical and programmatic risks and develop practical mitigation strategies.
- Provide on-orbit support, including propulsion performance assessment and anomaly resolution.
- Partner closely with manufacturing, integration, test, and mission operations teams to deliver reliable, integrated systems.
- Communicate technical decisions, status, and risks to internal and external stakeholders.
- Mentor engineers and raise the technical standard of the propulsion organization.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical discipline.
- 5+ years of professional experience in aerospace propulsion or a closely related field for the Senior level; Staff-level candidates will typically have broader technical leadership experience.
- Demonstrated experience developing bipropellant rocket propulsion systems.
- Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanics, and materials.
- Experience performing system-level engineering trades, including thermal-fluid analysis, materials selection, component selection, and operational analysis.
- Experience owning technical work from requirements definition through implementation and verification.
- Ability to lead effectively in small, highly collaborative, cross-functional teams.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Experience serving as the responsible engineer or technical lead for a flight propulsion system.
- Experience with spacecraft propulsion-system architecture.
- Experience with pressure systems, propellant management, valves, regulators, tanks, thrusters, or feed systems.
- Experience developing or executing propulsion development, acceptance, or qualification tests.
- Experience supporting launch or on-orbit spacecraft operations.
- Experience leading anomaly investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective-action implementation.
- Experience mentoring engineers or establishing technical processes and best practices.
- For Staff-level candidates: a demonstrated record of setting technical direction, influencing across organizations, and delivering complex systems with limited oversight.
Why Impulse Space?
You will have the opportunity to work on flight hardware that enables responsive, reliable movement in space—while solving challenging propulsion problems alongside a highly capable team. At Impulse, your work will directly influence spacecraft performance, mission success, and the future of in-space transportation.
Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.
You will have the opportunity to work on flight hardware that enables responsive, reliable movement in space—while solving challenging propulsion problems alongside a highly capable team. At Impulse, your work will directly influence spacecraft performance, mission success, and the future of in-space transportation.
Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Source: Impulse Space's careers page. SpaceJobs links you to apply directly with the employer; we never collect applications.