Lead physics-based feasibility and mission architecture definition for orbital transfer vehicles. Rapidly iterate CONOPS, trajectories, and system-level trade studies; partner with BD and engineering; engage customers; identify and bound technical risks to ensure executable mission requirements.
As an Staff Advanced Mission Concepts Engineer at Impulse, you will bridge the gap between high-level customer ambitions and the hard-engineering reality of our orbital transfer vehicles. You will own the physics-based feasibility of our future missions, ensuring we don't just "bid" missions, but architect them for success. You will sit within the Mission Management team, partnering with Business Development and Engineering to shape mission concepts, define system-level requirements, and ensure every solution is physically executable. This role includes direct customer engagement and occasional travel.
Responsibilities
- Apply first-principles engineering and first-order systems sizing to rapidly iterate on mission concepts and architecture feasibility
- Define mission architectures, including CONOPS, trajectory requirements, and system-level trade studies
- Partner with engineering leads to ensure designs are grounded in realistic hardware constraints
- Act as the technical lead during capture phases, co-authoring concepts with Business Development
- Conduct iterative feasibility assessments to identify and bound technical risks before mission commitment
- Serve as the technical interface for customers to translate high-level ambitions into defined, executable mission requirements
- Lead complex trade studies that balance competing requirements, collaborating with SMEs to validate performance and ensure technical rigo
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical field
- 8+ years of aerospace engineering experience with a focus on systems engineering, mission analysis, or advanced concept design
- Strong ability to translate complex physics and orbital constraints into clear, non-technical trade-offs for executive stakeholders
- Deep proficiency with mission analysis tools (e.g., STK, GMAT, FreeFlyer) and scripting (Python, MATLAB)
- Functional understanding of spacecraft systems and payload accommodations
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Master’s degree or PhD in Aerospace Engineering or Systems Engineering
- Active TS/SCI security clearance or willingness to obtain one
- Experience in customer‑facing roles, specifically in a technical advisory or sales engineering capacity
- Hands‑on experience assembling spacecraft, supervising spacecraft build, or integrating payloads
- Experience operating spacecraft in orbit
- Broad familiarity with the space industry and mission architectures
- Proven ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced startup environment
- Experience with CAD tools and their integration into mission-level fit checks
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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