Senior Ground Systems Engineer (Cryogenics & Industrial Gases)

Impulse Space; Redondo Beach (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Impulse Space is seeking a Senior Ground Systems Engineer in Redondo Beach to own and evolve the industrial gas and cryogenic fluid infrastructure that enables spacecraft manufacturing, testing, and launch operations on our campus.

You will lead design, installation, operation, and maintenance of cryogenic tank farms, gas distribution, and pressure control systems, applying first-principles engineering to ensure safety, reliability, and scalability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience designing, operating, or maintaining industrial gas or cryogenic fluid systems.
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and process engineering fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the responsible engineer and primary technical owner for industrial gas and cryogenic fluid systems across the Redondo Beach campus
• Design, install, commission, operate, and maintain cryogenic tank farms, gas distribution systems, pressure control systems, and associated instrumentation
• Apply first-principles engineering to develop new ground support systems and improve existing infrastructure
• Partner with Test, Manufacturing, Avionics, Facilities, and Environmental Health & Safety teams to support production and test operations
• Develop system specifications, P&IDs, operating procedures, preventive maintenance plans, and engineering documentation
• Troubleshoot system issues involving cryogenic fluids, high-pressure gases, valves, instrumentation, controls, and process equipment
• Manage technical relationships with industrial gas suppliers, equipment vendors, and contractors
• Lead system commissioning, upgrades, and expansion projects while ensuring compliance with applicable safety and engineering standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline

Tools

Siemens NX CAD

P&ID drafting

Instrumentation

PLCs

Job description

Department

Manufacturing

Location

Redondo Beach

Compensation

$140,000 - $180,000 / year

Description

As a Senior Ground Systems Engineer at Impulse Space, you will own the design, installation, operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the industrial gas and cryogenic fluid infrastructure that enables spacecraft manufacturing, testing, and launch operations across our Redondo Beach campus. This role combines first-principles engineering with hands‑on execution to develop safe, reliable, and scalable ground support systems.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the responsible engineer and primary technical owner for industrial gas and cryogenic fluid systems across the Redondo Beach campus
• Design, install, commission, operate, and maintain cryogenic tank farms, gas distribution systems, pressure control systems, and associated instrumentation
• Apply first-principles engineering, including thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and controls, to develop new ground support systems and improve existing infrastructure
• Partner with Test, Manufacturing, Avionics, Facilities, and Environmental Health & Safety teams to support production and test operations
• Develop system specifications, P&IDs, operating procedures, preventive maintenance plans, and engineering documentation
• Troubleshoot system issues involving cryogenic fluids, high-pressure gases, valves, instrumentation, controls, and process equipment
• Manage technical relationships with industrial gas suppliers, equipment vendors, and contractors
• Lead system commissioning, upgrades, and expansion projects while ensuring compliance with applicable safety and engineering standards

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline
• Experience designing, operating, or maintaining industrial gas or cryogenic fluid systems
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and process engineering fundamentals

Preferred Skills And Experience

• 5+ years of hands-on experience with cryogenic fluid systems in an industrial or aerospace environment
• Experience with liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, helium, methane, hydrogen, or other cryogenic fluids
• Experience designing fluid systems from first principles, including pipe sizing, pressure drop analysis, heat leak calculations, and equipment selection
• Experience with high-pressure systems, pressure vessels, vacuum-jacketed piping, and hazardous gas systems
• Familiarity with P&IDs, instrumentation, PLCs, and process controls
• Experience with CAD (Siemens NX preferred) for equipment layouts and system design
• Experience commissioning and operating mission-critical utility or ground support systems
• Working knowledge of applicable codes and standards (ASME, NFPA, CGA, OSHA)

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.