Manager, Propulsion Test Engineering

Impulse Space

Mojave (CA)

On-site

USD 154,000 - 185,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement plan

Medical, vision & dental coverage

Stock options

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in Mojave is seeking an experienced Manager of Propulsion Test Engineering. This role involves leading and mentoring a diverse team while overseeing testing operations to ensure high reliability and performance. Candidates should hold a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and have over 5 years of experience in test engineering. This position offers a competitive salary between $154,000 and $185,000 and requires strong leadership and technical skills, along with a commitment to safety and quality.

Qualifications

5+ years of experience in development or production test engineering.
Understanding of fluid systems, instrumentation, data acquisition, and control systems.
Experience managing complex test operations.

Responsibilities

Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of engineers.
Plan and oversee test operations across multiple sites.
Drive root cause investigations, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Development test engineering

Team management

Fluid systems knowledge

Instrumentation

Data acquisition

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or related field

Job description

Manager, Propulsion Test Engineering at Impulse, you will be responsible for testing all aspects of development and production-level propulsion hardware. This team ensures that our propulsion systems meet design intent and performance requirements through rigorous testing, analysis, and validation.

As Manager, you will oversee a team of engineers ranging in experience from entry-level to principal, guiding their technical execution, professional development, and collaboration with cross-functional engineering teams. You’ll own the team’s priorities, performance, and culture—driving high reliability, innovation, and speed in our testing operations.

Department: Assembly, Integration & Test
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Mojave
Workplace type: Onsite
Compensation: $154,000 - $185,000 / year

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and grow a multidisciplinary team of engineers, from entry level to principal
Plan and oversee test operations across multiple test sites, develop operator training, and
Manage test schedules, resources, and priorities to meet program milestones
Coordinate with test equipment, infrastructure, and data systems teams to support current and future testing needs and ensure efficient, safe, and high-quality test operations
Drive root cause investigations, corrective actions, and continuous improvement in test processes and reliability
Resolve technical issues with innovative and resourceful solutions
Establish and maintain high technical and professional standards
Champion a culture of safety, technical rigor, and operational excellence

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or a related field
5+ years of demonstrated experience in development or production test engineering
Demonstrated success building and developing high-performing engineering teams
Demonstrated understanding of fluid systems, instrumentation, data acquisition, and control systems
Proven ability to manage complex test operations safely and effectively

Preferred Skills and Experience

Master’s degree in an engineering discipline or management field
Relevant experience in rocket, propulsion, or aerospace test engineering
Familiarity with test automation, data systems, and safety management

Additional Information

This role is based on-site at our Mojave Test facility at the Mojave Air & Space Port
Occasional travel to partner locations may be required
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents due to export control regulations

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 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.

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

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.

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