Chief Spacecraft Engineer — Lead System Architecture

Impulse Space; Redondo Beach (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, vision & dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Impulse Space in Redondo Beach, CA is seeking a Chief Engineer (Spacecraft) to lead the technical vision and execution of a spacecraft product line. You will own system architecture from concept through launch and on-orbit operations, partnering with engineering, manufacturing, test, mission ops, and leadership to drive decisions and ensure mission success.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in spacecraft, proven leadership of large teams, and the ability to obtain DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP clearance.

Qualifications

• 10+ years experience in the spacecraft domain.
• Proven track record leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP eligibility.
• Excellent leadership and communication in fast-paced environments.
• Experience with requirements, design reviews, and certification processes.

Responsibilities

• Own the spacecraft system architecture and baseline across the full program lifecycle
• Lead cross-functional technical trade studies and major design decisions to optimize performance, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and cost
• Maintain deep understanding of all spacecraft subsystems, interfaces, operational concepts, and mission objectives
• Drive the program technical roadmap in partnership with subsystem leads and subject matter experts while balancing performance, reliability, schedule, risk, and cost
• Establish and uphold a high standard of engineering rigor, technical discipline, and configuration control throughout development and operations
• Identify technical, operational, and programmatic risks early and develop mitigation strategies to ensure mission success
• Define and oversee vehicle-level readiness and certification processes, including major design reviews, test readiness reviews, and mission readiness activities
• Serve as the primary technical authority for the program with customers, government stakeholders, launch providers, and external partners
• Lead resolution of major anomalies and technical issues, driving root cause investigations and corrective actions through closure
• Champion continuous improvement across vehicle design, production, testing, operations, and organizational processes

Skills

Leadership

Systems thinking

Decision-making

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, or related field

Job description

Impulse Space in Redondo Beach, CA is seeking a Chief Engineer (Spacecraft) to lead the technical vision and execution of a spacecraft product line. You will own system architecture from concept through launch and on-orbit operations, partnering with engineering, manufacturing, test, mission ops, and leadership to drive decisions and ensure mission success.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in spacecraft, proven leadership of large teams, and the ability to obtain DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP clearance.