Mechanical Engineer II

Impulse Space; Redondo Beach (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Impulse Space in Redondo Beach is seeking a Mechanical Engineer II for the Vehicle Engineering team. You will own the hardware development lifecycle, from concept to launch, including cradle-to-grave design, analysis, and integration of primary/secondary structures and space mechanisms.

You will collaborate with propulsion, electrical, software, and controls teams; produce detailed drawings; and generate test plans to qualify hardware.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• 3+ 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 across different teams.
• Ability to communicate technical challenges and rationale.

Responsibilities

• Own all aspects of hardware development from concept through launch.
• Formulate cradle-to-grave road map for hardware.
• Develop structural designs using first principles for primary and secondary structures.
• Perform and document analyses including hand calculations and FEA.
• Source commercial components to support design intent.
• Incorporate manufacturing trades and varied construction methods.
• Guide hardware maturity and manage stakeholders involved.
• Communicate with adjacent subsystems to align hardware assumptions.
• Produce manufacturing drawings with specifications.
• Generate test plans and support structural qualification testing.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and external suppliers for parts and assemblies.
• Update designs and documentation for continuous improvement.

Skills

CAD software proficiency

Lofting & surfacing

Technical communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

FEA software

Job description

Compensation

$110,000 - $140,000 / year

Department

Vehicle Engineering

Location

Redondo Beach

Description

As a Mechanical Engineer II at Impulse for our Vehicle Engineering Team, you are responsible for the design, build, test/analysis & integration of your hardware – working with cross‑functional engineering teams to accomplish this. This means cradle‑to‑grave ownership of primary/secondary structure and critical space mechanisms in support of Impulse’s collection of 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 Road Map 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
• 3+ years of demonstrated experience in mechanical design
• Demonstrated proficiency in CAD software with ability to learn new tools
• Demonstrated ability to model complex shapes including lofting and surfacing
• 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

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Masters' degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• 1+ years" of demonstrated mechanical design & analysis with space-flown hardware
• 3+ years" of demonstrated understanding of geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T)
• 3+ years" of demonstrated experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
• Capable of performing basic structural and thermal analysis in support of design
• In order to be successful in this role, you should be someone who is uniquely creative, self-driven, and is able to lead his or her 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, 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.