Lead planning, coordination, and execution of spacecraft programs across development, qualification, acceptance, and flight campaigns. Own schedules, manage risks, define requirements, coordinate cross-functional teams (engineering, manufacturing, I&T, supply chain), track program health, support proposals, and document high-reliability processes to ensure timely delivery and mission success.
As a Program Manager at Impulse, you will work across the breadth one or more spacecraft programs, spearheading the planning, coordination, and execution of a variety of development, qualification, acceptance, and flight campaigns. This role is responsible for ensuring cross-functional alignment, timely delivery, and efficient execution across hardware, software, testing, and operations teams — owning schedules, managing risks, and driving accountability.
Responsibilities
- Organize multi-disciplinary teams through all phases of complex spacecraft programs
- Drive cross-functional planning including:
- Requirements definition and analysis
- Schedule formulation, tracking, and resource allocation
- Hardware and software configuration definition
- Build and test work scope and order-of-operations
- Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure delivery and mission success
- Define and document critical processes for ensuring high-reliability
- Coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, integration & test, supply chain, and customer teams
- Manage internal and external stakeholders to ensure program alignment and transparency
- Track and report program health, timelines, and key deliverables to senior leadership
- Support proposal development, resource planning, and contract execution
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Business, or related field
- 5+ years' of demonstrated experience in aerospace, defense, or complex technical program management
- Proven track record of managing hardware programs through lifecycle phases (development, test, production, and delivery)
- Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills
- Proficient in project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet)
Preferred Skills and Experience
- 7+ years' of demonstrated program experience with launch vehicles, spacecraft, or propulsion systems
- Hands-on familiarity with systems engineering and integration processes
- Proficiency with CAD software
- Understanding of FAA/DoD regulatory environments and launch campaign logistics
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.
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