Leads spacecraft system architecture, technical direction, engineering trade studies, risk management, readiness reviews, certification, anomaly resolution, and mission success across the full product lifecycle. Partners with engineering, manufacturing, testing, mission operations, executives, customers, government stakeholders, launch providers, and external partners to deliver reliable spacecraft systems.
As a Chief Engineer (Spacecraft) at Impulse, you will be the technical leader responsible for the vision, execution, and mission success of a spacecraft product line. This role owns the system architecture and technical direction from early concept development through launch and on-orbit operations. The ideal candidate combines deep spacecraft engineering expertise with exceptional leadership, systems thinking, and execution in fast-paced development environments.
As Chief Engineer, you will partner closely with engineering, manufacturing, test, mission operations, and executive leadership to drive technical decisions, manage program risk, and ensure delivery of highly reliable space systems.
Responsibilities
- Own the spacecraft system architecture and technical baseline across the full program lifecycle
- Lead cross-functional technical trade studies and major design decisions to optimize performance, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and cost
- Maintain deep understanding of all spacecraft subsystems, interfaces, operational concepts, and mission objectives
- Drive the program technical roadmap in partnership with subsystem leads and subject matter experts while balancing performance, reliability, schedule, risk, and cost
- Establish and uphold a high standard of engineering rigor, technical discipline, and configuration control throughout development and operations
- Identify technical, operational, and programmatic risks early and develop mitigation strategies to ensure mission success
- Define and oversee vehicle-level readiness and certification processes, including major design reviews, test readiness reviews, and mission readiness activities
- Serve as the primary technical authority for the program with customers, government stakeholders, launch providers, and external partners
- Lead resolution of major anomalies and technical issues, driving root cause investigations and corrective actions through closure
- Champion continuous improvement across vehicle design, production, testing, operations, and organizational processes
Minimum Qualifications
- 10+ years of demonstrated experience in the spacecraft domain
- 5+ years of demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams or managing large-scale technical programs
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, or related field
- Proven track record of managing hardware programs through the full lifecycle
- Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills in fast-moving technical environments
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP security clearance
Preferred Skills and Experience
- 12+ years' of experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams or managing large-scale technical programs
- Direct experience serving as Chief Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer, System Lead, or equivalent technical authority for a spacecraft
- Deep hands-on familiarity with spacecraft integration, environmental testing, launch campaigns, mission operations, and anomaly resolution
- Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystem interactions and vehicle-level architecture development
- Active TS/SCI security clearance
- Demonstrated experience scaling engineering organizations and development processes within rapidly growing aerospace companies
- Intimate knowledge of U.S. Department of Defense standards and requirements
Additional Information:
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.
About
Impulse Space, the in-space transportation company founded by Tom Mueller, is opening access beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with its fleet of in-space transportation vehicles. The high-energy Helios vehicle unlocks orbits beyond LEO with its powerful Deneb engine, dropping off payloads in MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. The flight-proven Mira vehicle uses a nontoxic, high-impulse chemical propulsion system to offer orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry services to customers throughout LEO. Led by a team that delivered the most reliable rockets in history, Impulse provides economical and efficient in-space transportation by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go.
Impulse Space El Segundo, California, USA Office
El Segundo, CA, United States, 90245
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