Principal Mechanical Engineer; Spacecraft

Position: Principal Mechanical Engineer (Spacecraft)
Senior Mechanical Engineer (Spacecraft) at Impulse Space

Location:

Redondo Beach

Compensation: $135,000 – $165,000 per year

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer for our Vehicle Engineering Team, you are responsible for the design, build, test/analysis, and integration of your hardware – working with cross‑functional engineering teams to accomplish this. You will own cradle‑to‑gravel ownership of primary/secondary structures and critical space mechanisms supporting Impulse’s next generation advanced propulsion space vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Own all aspects of hardware development and execution, from concept through launch and orbital maneuvers

• Formulate the comprehensive cradle to grave roadmap for your hardware

• Establish driving loads and develop efficient structural design using first principles to inform critical architecture decisions on primary and secondary structures

• Perform and document analysis with clear objectives to support design intent, including hand calculations, finite element analysis, and kinematic analysis

• Identify, specify, and source commercial components to support design intent as required

• Incorporate manufacturing trades into conceptual design to explore different construction methods—including machined, formed, welded, composite, or other opportunities

• Proactively guide all aspects of your hardware’s maturity, project‑managing your hardware’s end users, stakeholders, and adjacent contributors to ensure all aspects of the system continue to mature together and that your assumptions are well understood outside yourself and remain valid

• Communicate effectively to ensure adjacent designs (such as propulsion, electrical, software, and controls subsystems) are accounting for and supporting your hardware assumptions

• Produce engineering drawings with required specifications for manufacturing

• Generate test plans and provide direct support to ensure successful execution of your hardware’s structural qualification and acceptance testing

• Work with internal manufacturing team and external sources to procure materials, fabricate parts, and complete assemblies

• Update designs and documentation to support continuous improvement

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

• 5+ years of demonstrated experience in mechanical design

• Proficiency in CAD software with ability to learn new tools

• Ability to model complex shapes including lofting and surfacing

• Experience in conceptual design, fabrication and testing of hardware

• Experience working collaboratively across different teams

• Strong communication skills and ability to explain technical challenges, rationale, and resolve concerns

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

• 8+ years of demonstrated mechanical design and analysis with space‑flown hardware

• 5+ years of experience with geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T)

• 5+ years of experience with finite element analysis (FEA)

• Capable of performing basic structural and thermal analysis in support of design

• Creativity, self‑drive, and ability to lead own projects to completion

Additional Information

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay are 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, full‑time hires may be eligible for long‑term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as a 401(k) retirement plan.

Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including ITAR and EAR. This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons or persons eligible for an export license. Learn more about ITAR compliance.

Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment is governed on the basis of merit and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

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