Lead Vehicle Engineer, Components
Impulse Space
USD 135k-165k / year + Equity
Posted on Mar 18, 2026
As the Lead for Spacecraft Components, you will own all aspects of spacecraft component design, analysis, implementation, operation, sustainment, and improvement while working with a fast paced, agile team that produces high-performance spacecraft components from clean sheet design.
- Department
- Vehicle Engineering
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Redondo Beach
- Workplace type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $135,000 - $165,000 / year
- Reporting To
- Drew Boggio
Responsibilities
- Lead a team of all-star responsible engineers working on components including but not limited to deployable structures, actuators, COPVs, solar modules, and separation systems
- Determine product roadmap of spacecraft components by working closely with partner teams, leadership, and business development
- Architect and implement engineering processes to streamline component development, test, and sustainment through production ramp
- Create and execute spacecraft component test campaigns
- Work with wide ranging teams across engineering, manufacturing, and operations to deliver reliable high-performing components to flight vehicles
- Direct technical ownership and individual contributor work of a components
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science or related field
- Past results and execution developing, testing, and flying spacecraft components as a technical individual contributor
- Strong technical knowledge in one or more spacecraft component types
- 5+ years of demonstrated experience in spacecraft components
- Professional experience managing and growing a team
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Master’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering
- 2+ years of demonstrated experience working in lead roles on spacecraft component design and development
- Ownership of the technical development of a spacecraft component through the entirety of its design cycle: conceptualization, system level trades, design, analysis, test, build, integration, and flight operations
- Experience in a startup or agile development environment
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)
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