Senior Autonomy Engineer

Impulsespace; Colorado; On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Impulse Space in Boulder County seeks a Senior Autonomy Engineer to own spacecraft-level autonomous behavior across all mission phases. You will define how the vehicle detects faults, makes decisions, transitions modes, and safely executes mission objectives with minimal ground intervention.

Collaborate across flight software, GNC, avionics, and ground systems to ensure robust autonomy; drive verification via SIL/HIL and mission simulations; support integration and operations throughout programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience with requirements and system-level behavior definition.
• Demonstrated hands-on involvement with verification, simulation, or test.
• Demonstrated spacecraft autonomy or fault management experience.

Responsibilities

• Define the spacecraft autonomy architecture, including modes, states, authority, and decision boundaries.
• Own fault management, safing, and recovery logic at the system level.
• Coordinate autonomous behavior across flight software, GNC, avionics, and ground systems.
• Define and maintain autonomy interfaces and assumptions.
• Drive system-level verification using SIL, HIL, and mission simulations.
• Configure vehicle automations tied to mission risk and operational needs.
• Support integration, test campaigns, and mission operations.

Skills

Systems thinking

Fault management

Autonomy frameworks

Onboard decision-making

State machines

Flight software

GNC

Mission operations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering / Robotics / Computer Science

Job description

Department: Autonomous Systems

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Boulder County

Compensation: $150,000 - $200,000 / year

Description

As a Senior Autonomy Engineer at Impulse Space, you will own spacecraft-level autonomous behavior across all mission phases. You will define how the vehicle detects faults, makes decisions, transitions modes, and safely executes mission objectives with minimal ground intervention.

Responsibilities

• Define the spacecraft autonomy architecture, including modes, states, authority, and decision boundaries
• Own fault management, safing, and recovery logic at the system level
• Coordinate autonomous behavior across flight software, GNC, avionics, and ground systems
• Define and maintain autonomy interfaces and assumptions
• Drive system-level verification using SIL, HIL, and mission simulations
• Configure vehicle automations tied to mission risk and operational needs
• Support integration, test campaigns, and mission operations

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or related engineering discipline
• 5+ years of experience with requirements and system-level behavior definition
• Demonstrated hands-on involvement with verification, simulation, or test
• Demonstrated spacecraft autonomy or fault management experience

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Strong systems thinking applied to complex, safety-critical systems
• Ability to reason about failures, edge cases, and operational risk
• Familiarity with flight software, GNC, or mission operations
• Demonstrated experience with state machines, autonomy frameworks, or onboard decision-making
• Demonstrated experience with proximity operations, rendezvous, landing, or deep-space missions

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.