Mechanical Engineer (Spacecraft)

Impulse Space; Redondo Beach (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical coverage

Vision & Dental coverage

401(k)

Job summary

Impulse Space in Redondo Beach is seeking a Mechanical Engineer for the Vehicle Engineering Team. You will own cradle-to-grave hardware design, from concept through launch and orbital maneuvers, including primary/secondary structures and space mechanisms.

You will perform analyses, generate roadmaps, and collaborate with cross-functional teams across propulsion, electrical, software and controls to ensure maturity and successful hardware testing in a challenging space environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field is required.
• 2+ years of mechanical design experience.
• Proficiency in CAD and the ability to learn new tools.
• Experience modeling complex shapes (lofting/surfacing).
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to communicate technical challenges and solutions.

Responsibilities

• Own hardware development from concept through launch and orbital use.
• Create a cradle-to-grave road map for the hardware.
• Design primary and secondary structures using first principles.
• Document analyses including hand calculations and FEA.
• Source components to support design intent.
• Integrate manufacturing trades into conceptual design.
• Lead hardware maturation with stakeholders to keep assumptions valid.
• Coordinate with propulsion, electrical, software, and controls teams.
• Produce engineering drawings for manufacturing.
• Generate test plans and support structural qualification testing.
• Work with internal and external teams to procure materials and assemblies.
• Update designs and documentation for continuous improvement.

Skills

CAD software

Lofting & surfacing

Hardware design

FEA

Cross-functional teamwork

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Master's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Job description

Department:

Vehicle Engineering

Location:

Redondo Beach

Compensation:

$100,000 - $130,000 / year

Description:

As a Mechanical Engineer 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
• 2+ 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
• 3+ years' of demonstrated mechanical design & analysis with space-flown hardware
• 5+ years of demonstrated understanding of geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T)
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
• Capable of performing basic structural and thermal analysis in support of design

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 identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.