Enter a job title or keyword
Staff Propulsion Development Engineer (Thrusters)
Job Location:
Job Location:
Redondo Beach, CA - USA
Yearly Salary:
$ 150000 - 175000
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
2 June 2026 (30+ days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
30 August 2026
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
As a Senior Propulsion Development Engineer (Thrusters) at Impulse you will own all aspects of in-house propulsion system design analysis implementation and operation while working closely with a fast-paced agile team that produces high-performance spacecraft from clean sheet designs. Building off our successful Mira spacecraft program Impulse is developing new propulsion systems for on-orbit applications as well as Lander applications. Impulse is looking for development engineers who can contribute to these key hardware development projects.
Responsibilities
- Own all aspects of a storable liquid bipropellant thruster and/or subsystem development
- Conduct analysis and testing to ensure that the performance and function of hardware meets intent
- Prepare plan and execute tests including engine hotfire testing
- Work with wide-ranging teams across engineering manufacturing and operations to deliver a reliable high-performance and highly integrated system
- Resolve technical issues with innovative resourceful solutions
- Lead technical projects and/or a small team of engineers
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in engineering or science
- 8 years of demonstrated experience in the aerospace propulsion field
- Prior experience working on bipropellant rocket engines including hardware and test experience with combustion devices.
- Proficiency in basic principles of fluids thermodynamics heat transfer mechanics and materials
- Ability to perform system trades ranging from thermal-fluids analyses to materials selection
- Hands-on experience working with fluid mechanical electrical and controls systems
- Demonstrated ability of taking project ownership and working collaboratively with small teams
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Advanced degree in Mechanical Aerospace or a comparable field.
- Experience working in fast-paced startup environment.
- Demonstrated technical project leadership over propulsion development programs
- Prior experience with combustion devices and ignition system development
- Prior experience with nitrous oxide as a propellant
- Proficiency in CAD software with ability to learn new tools
- Familiarity with aerospace structural analysis standards pertinent to liquid rocket engine development (e.g. NASA-STD-5012 NASA-STD-5020)
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Additional Requirements:
- Flexible schedule and willing to travel as needed
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 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 Spaces 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.
Required Experience:
Staff IC
