The Role
Propulsion Engineering Intern will support spacecraft propulsion component and system development. Responsibilities include owning development tasks, collaborating with design, testing, and manufacturing teams, validating hardware performance, resolving technical issues, and producing hardware, analyses, and documentation. The 12-week, on-site internship requires hands-on experience with fluid or mechanical systems and foundational knowledge of fluids, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanics, and materials. Familiarity with MATLAB, Python, or Excel is preferred.
Summary Generated by Built In
As a Propulsion Engineering Intern at Impulse Space, you will work on propulsion development projects while working closely with a fast-paced, agile team that strives to make a high-performance spacecraft from a clean sheet design.
*This internship is 12 weeks long from May/June through August/September 2027
*This internship is 12 weeks long from May/June through August/September 2027
Responsibilities
- Own critical aspects of propulsion component and/or system development
- Work with the design, test, and manufacturing teams to produce and validate hardware
- Ensure that the performance and function of the hardware meets intent
- Resolve technical issues with innovative and resourceful solutions
- Deliver high-quality hardware, analyses, and/or documentation
Minimum Qualifications
- Recent completion or working towards a degree in engineering, science or related field
- Demonstrated ability to take project ownership and work well in a small team
- Demonstrated hands-on experience working with fluid or mechanical systems
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Proficiency in basic principles of fluids, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanics, and materials
- Familiarity with analysis programming such as MATLAB, Python, Excel, etc.
- Prior experience in hardware development and/or testing
Additional Requirements
- Willing and able to work on-site in Redondo Beach, CA for the duration of the internship
- This role may require overtime hours; interns are eligible for overtime pay.
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.
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
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.
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. 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, 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.
Skills Required
- Recent completion of or current enrollment in an engineering, science, or related degree program
- Ability to take project ownership and work effectively in a small team
- Hands-on experience working with fluid or mechanical systems
- Basic knowledge of fluids, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanics, and materials
- Familiarity with MATLAB, Python, or Excel for analysis programming
- Prior hardware development or testing experience
- Ability and willingness to work on-site in Redondo Beach, California, for the internship duration
- U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, protected individual status, or eligibility to obtain required ITAR authorizations
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The Company
What We Do
Impulse enables low-cost and nimble last-mile space payload delivery - access any orbit, reach other worlds.
