Manager, Avionics Mechanical Engineer

Manager, Avionics Mechanical Engineer

Department: Avionics

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Redondo Beach

Reporting To: Kevin Mikolaitis, Director of Avionics

Compensation: $140,000 - $190,000 / year

Description

We are seeking an experienced Manager to lead our team of mechanical engineers and own development of avionics mechanical hardware across multiple spacecraft platforms and vehicle configurations.

This role is responsible for the end-to-end leadership of mechanical development for electronics packaging, RF hardware, and optical systems operating in demanding space environments. The ideal candidate combines strong technical depth with organizational leadership, and can drive architecture decisions, qualification strategy, and interdisciplinary coordination in a fast-paced startup environment.

You will work directly with electrical engineering, vehicle engineering, propulsion, manufacturing, mission managers, and customers. You will have the opportunity to contribute to all aspects of spacecraft electronics development, from architecting new systems to building and operating them.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of mechanical engineers responsible for the for avionics hardware across multiple spacecraft programs and vehicle variants
• Establish and standardize engineering reviews, design processes, documentation practices, and execution workflows
• Lead mechanical and system trades involving mass, stiffness, thermal performance, manufacturability, maintainability, and qualification risk
• Serve as the primary mechanical engineering authority within a highly interdisciplinary development environment acting as the technical backstop for your team when needed
• Work closely with electrical engineering, RF engineering, optics, manufacturing, integration and test, vehicle engineering, GNC, thermal analysts, dynamics analysts, and harness design teams
• Own mechanical qualification and acceptance strategies for avionics hardware
• Oversee BOM structures, product configurations, and hardware release workflows
• Create top level schedules, including product roadmaps, and staffing across multiple programs
• Drive changes that make the system more efficient, manufacturable, and reliable

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• 7+ years professional experience developing avionics, RF, optical, or spacecraft hardware for aerospace applications
• Strong background in electronics packaging and mechanical integration for high-reliability environments
• Experience owning hardware through full development lifecycle, including qualification and flight integration
• Strong understanding of structural and thermal design considerations for aerospace electronics and precision hardware
• Experience with environmental qualification and acceptance testing for aerospace systems
• Experience leading cross-functional engineering efforts across multiple disciplines
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent hardware efforts and competing priorities
• Strong communication, mentorship, and technical leadership skills

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master's degree in mechanical engineering or related field
• Experience with NX, Teamcenter, and/or ANSYS
• Self-motivated with proven ability to lead a technical team and resolve critical issues
• Experience developing new avionics hardware relevant to spacecraft or rockets and owning project schedules
• Experience making architecture and technical risk decisions in fast-paced development environments
• Experience scaling engineering processes and organizational maturity within a growing company

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…