Analyze and create fluid system designs for spacecraft propulsion: perform fluids and thermal analyses, size PMDs, run CFD and multi-phase simulations, validate with testing, develop company-wide analysis tools, and mentor peers.
As a Senior Propulsion Analyst (Fluids) at Impulse, your core responsibility will be to analyze and create clean sheet designs of spacecraft propulsion fluids systems and components.
Responsibilities
- Perform and document fluids and thermal analyses of liquid propellant rocket engine, tanks and feed systems.
- Size propellant management devices (PMDs), baffles and/or screens with industry standard equations and techniques
- Perform CFD analysis of internal flow geometries
- Perform analysis of propellant tank phenomenon including: zero- and micro-gravity fluid management, propellant slosh and propellant mass gauging
- Assist with validation testing of internal tank propellant management devices (baffles, AVDs, bubble point screens, etc)
- Ensure model predictions are grounded through a practical hands-on approach
- Contribute to developing analysis processes and tools to be used company wide. Achieve buy-in with key stakeholders and provide training for general use
- Provide professional development, mentorship, and technical guidance to peers
Minimum Qualifications
- B.S. degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or a comparable field
- 4+ years of demonstrated experience with fluid/thermal analysis on liquid propellant rocket engines, rocket stages, spacecraft or similar high-performance systems
- 4+ years of professional experience in fluid analysis with commercial software (e.g. Fluent, CFX, SINDA/FLUINT,) and hand-calc methods
- Basic experience with 3D CAD software (NX preferred)
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Advanced degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or a comparable field
- Experience working in fast-paced, startup environment
- Strong fundamentals in compressible & incompressible fluid mechanics and heat-transfer, including hand calculation methods
- Advanced proficiency with a commercial CFD tool through all stages of the workflow (geometry prep, mesh generation, setup, convergence, post-processing)
- Familiarity with ANSYS CFX, ANSYS Fluent, and/or Star-CCM+
- Familiarity with multi-phase fluid modeling and acceleration dominated fluid dynamics
- Experience with anchoring CFD analysis to test or flight data
- Experience with waterhammer and fluid network modeling (SINDA/FLUINT or other similar tools)
- Programing experience for creating analysis tools or performing hand-calcs. Python preferred. Matlab or other high-level languages acceptable
- Experience in root-cause analysis
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Additional Requirements:
- Flexible schedule and willing to travel as needed
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
Similar Jobs
Aerospace • Other
Perform fluids, CFD, and thermal analyses (steady and transient) to guide design and verification of rocket engine hardware across all flight phases. Validate models with test and flight data, collaborate with propulsion teams, improve system-level models and workflows, and support hardware development and safe operation.
Top Skills:
AnsysAnsys CfxCfdConjugate Heat TransferMatlabParasolidsPythonSiemens NxSinda/FluintStar-Ccm+Transient Fluids Modeling
eCommerce • Information Technology • Retail • Industrial
Outside B2B sales role managing ~85 medium customers (~$2M portfolio). Build territory and account plans, grow customer relationships, maintain CRM pipeline, identify opportunities, negotiate deals, and conduct face-to-face customer meetings within an assigned geography.
eCommerce • Information Technology • Retail • Industrial
Outside B2B sales role managing ~85 medium-size MRO customers across a territory. Build territory and account plans, grow sales through relationship development, pipeline management, CRM use, customer meetings, negotiation, and multi-channel outreach. Regular face-to-face customer visits with occasional overnight travel.
Top Skills:
CRM
What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene
Los Angeles is a global leader in entertainment, so it’s no surprise that many of the biggest players in streaming, digital media and game development call the city home. But the city boasts plenty of non-entertainment innovation as well, with tech companies spanning verticals like AI, fintech, e-commerce and biotech. With major universities like Caltech, UCLA, USC and the nearby UC Irvine, the city has a steady supply of top-flight tech and engineering talent — not counting the graduates flocking to Los Angeles from across the world to enjoy its beaches, culture and year-round temperate climate.
Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
- Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering
