Test Engineer (Electric Propulsion)
Impulse Space
Quality Assurance
USD 105k-145k / year + Equity
Posted on Nov 15, 2025
As an Electric Propulsion Test Engineer at Impulse, you will develop and execute tests of all electric propulsion hardware at Impulse. You will design and build test chambers and GSE for hardware at all stages of the product life cycle. You will work with hardware engineers to design flight qualification and acceptance test campaigns and be responsible for operating hardware and delivering test results.
- Department
- Propulsion
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Redondo Beach
- Workplace type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $105,000 - $145,000 / year
Responsibilities
- Develop and support test campaigns on electric propulsion hardware including electronics, fluid systems, and engines
- Design and implement test GSE, from basic tooling to brand new facilities
- Operate vacuum chambers, pumps, flow controllers, power supplies, thrust stands, plasma diagnostics, and other electronic test equipment
- Verify hardware for flight via execution and documentation of relevant tests
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or related engineering field
- 2+ years demonstrated hands-on experience with hardware development and/or testing in a lab or industry setting
- Demonstrated proficiency with CAD software and ability to learn new software tools
Preferred Skills and Experience
- 3+ years of demonstrated hands-on experience operating electric propulsion hardware such as thrusters, hollow cathodes, feed systems, and/or PPUs
- Demonstrated experience with vacuum chamber operations and fundamental knowledge of vacuum systems
- Demonstrated experience designing, writing, executing, and documenting flight hardware test campaigns
- Self-motivated with an ability to work in an agile startup environment and take full ownership of projects
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.
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.
Our Hiring Process
Stage 1:
Application Received
Stage 2:
Resume Review
Stage 3:
Intro Phone Interview
Stage 4:
Technical Phone Interview(s)
Don't see the right opportunity? Register your interest and be notified when it becomes available
