RF Mechanical Engineer Redondo

RF Mechanical Engineer

Department: Avionics

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Redondo Beach

Compensation: $110,000 - $155,000 / year

As an RF Mechanical Engineer
at Impulse, your responsibility will be to own the design, build, test/analysis, and integration of RF mechanical hardware for space missions anywhere from low Earth orbit to Mars. You’ll work with cross‑functional engineering teams including mechanical, electrical, and RF on components such as antennas, radios, cavity filters, and waveguide. This means cradle‑to‑grave ownership of designs and systems in support of Impulse’s collection of next generation advanced propulsion space vehicles.

• Own all aspects of hardware development and execution, from concept through design, test, and launch
• Work with RF and antenna engineers to establish requirements that will ensure success at a system level
• Perform and document analysis with clear objectives to support design intent including hand calculations and FEA
• Incorporate manufacturing trades into conceptual design to explore different fabrication and assembly methods, with emphasis on DFM and DFA
• Communicate effectively to ensure adjacent systems (such as vehicle, GNC, electrical, and software) are accounting for and supporting your hardware assumptions
• Conduct design reviews (CoDR, PDR, CDR) to cross‑disciplinary teams to communicate the impacts of your design, and establish open risks and mitigations
• Analyze structural modes, thermal performance, and other critical aspects of RF devices
• Produce engineering drawings with required specifications for manufacturing using GD&T
• Generate Test Plans and provide direct support to ensure successful execution of your hardware’s structural and thermal 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

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience in mechanical design with time spent working on RF or antenna components
• Demonstrated proficiency in CAD software with ability to learn new tools
• Demonstrated ability in conceptual design, fabrication and testing of hardware
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively across different teams
• Ability to communicate technical challenges, explain rationale and/or resolve concerns
• Understanding of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and its mitigation techniques
• Experience with standard manufacturing methods such as CNC milling, turning, wire EDM, 3D printing, and sheet metal
• Understanding of standard aerospace materials and their properties

• 2+ years of demonstrated experience doing mechanical design and analysis on space‑flown hardware
• Experience designing cavity RF components such as filters, splitters, circulators/isolators, or waveguide
• Previous design experience in mechanically mitigating desense/EMI on mixed signal designs
• 2+ years' of demonstrated understanding of geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T)
• 2+ years' of demonstrated experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
• Experience with mechanical design in challenging vibration/thermal environments
• Experience at a startup or agile development environment
• Experience with NX and Teamcenter

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.