Lead propulsion component manufacturing from concept through prototype, qualification, and production. Develop assembly/test instructions, design fixtures and tooling, collaborate with design and shop teams, troubleshoot manufacturing/test issues, and expand in-house production and test capabilities to enable scalable, reliable propulsion hardware.
As a Propulsion Components Manufacturing Engineer at Impulse, you will assist with build & fabrication of components for propulsion and vehicle control systems. Work alongside propulsion component designers to take hardware from initial drawings, to fabricated assemblies, to fully integrated onto our vehicles. Impulse Space is seeking hands-on engineers who want to work in a rapidly iterative production environment.
Responsibilities
- Own all aspects of propulsion component manufacturing from initial concept through prototype build, qualification, and rate production.
- Drive the development, build, assembly, and testing of complex propulsion hardware, ensuring reliable, cost‑efficient, and scalable manufacturing outcomes.
- Create robust assembly and test work instructions, and design production‑ready fixtures and tooling that enable efficient, repeatable, and high‑rate manufacturing.
- Lead creative changes to production processes and hardware design by partnering closely with design engineering to iterate for manufacturability and reduce cost, cycle time, and complexity.
- Collaborate deeply with build and test technicians, design engineers, internal machine shops, and external suppliers to ensure components are optimized for manufacturability, ease of assembly, and performance.
- Resolve technical issues across manufacturing and testing by developing innovative, resourceful solutions and driving root‑cause analysis with quality and design stakeholders.
- Design and improve component‑level testing assets—including proof and leak, flow characterization, and functional checkout—while advancing capability, automation, and test throughput.
- Grow your expertise across multiple manufacturing disciplines to expand in‑house production and test capability, helping forge our path toward rapid, reliable access to space.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering discipline or Physics
- 3+ years of professional experience manufacturing, building, testing, or troubleshooting hardware
- Demonstrated experience with Design for Manufacturability and complex assemblies
- Demonstrated results with product or process improvements
- Hands-on experience with basic fabrication tools and processes (electric/pneumatic power tools, tube bending, machining, welding, etc.)
- Demonstrated ability of taking project ownership and working well in small teams
Preferred Skills and Experience
- 5+ years' of manufacturing experience working directly with components or sub-assemblies in an aerospace environment
- Demonstrated experience developing production processes from the ground up including driving design improvements for manufacturing
- Self-starter able to identify problems and implement solutions with limited supervision
- Experience with instrumentation, data acquisition, and data review
- Hands-on experience trouble-shooting, building and testing hardware
- Extremely hands on. Experience with fabrication tools and processes (electric/pneumatic power tools, manual lathes/mills, calipers, welding equipment, etc.)
- Familiarity with CAD software (NX or equivalent), geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and work holding design and analysis Prior experience working in a fast-paced agile product development environment
- Flexible schedule and willing to travel as needed
- Python / SQL programming experience or similar
- High attention to detail and rapid pace of execution
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.
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
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.
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. 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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