The Role
Designs, programs, commissions, and troubleshoots industrial machinery and control systems for R&D, testing, and production. Responsibilities include electrical and fluid schematics, PLC software in TwinCAT, industrial hardware selection, HMI development, safety compliance, risk assessments, and collaboration with end users, vendors, and manufacturers. The role requires ownership of equipment design from concept through commissioning and a flexible schedule with travel as needed.
Summary Generated by Built In
As a Senior Automation & Controls Engineer at Impulse, you will be responsible for the design and commissioning of industrial machinery and systems for R&D, test, and production while working closely with a fast-paced, agile team.
Responsibilities
- Own all aspects of equipment design from concept, requirements, and commissioning
- Generate necessary schematics and for electrical and fluid systems in EPlan to required standards
- Write and debug software for PLCs in TwinCAT that is maintainable and scalable
- Programming of various industrial controls hardware (VFDs, motor starters, PLCs, etc.)
- Selecting of application specific hardware (circuit protection, VFDs, motion systems, robots, etc.)
- Development of HMIs that are easy to use, functional, and can be used for diagnostics & troubleshooting
- Work with end users for end users to ensure equipment meets design intent
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field
- 5+ years of work in a relevant field (manufacturing/test/R&D)
- 5+ years of PLC programming experience
Preferred Skills and Experience
- 7+ years of work in a relevant field (manufacturing/test/R&D)
- Familiarity of PLC systems
- Object oriented programming in structured text per IEC 61131-3
- Industrial Safety
- Schematic design with EPlan
- 3D Control panel design with EPlan ProPanel
- Troubleshooting electrical and mechanical systems
- Understanding of ISO 13849, ANSI B11, or IEC 61508 safety standards
- Knowledge of UL508A, NFPA 70, NFPA 79 standards
- Familiarity with industrial protocols such as EtherCAT, Profinet, IO-Link, etc.
- Work with external vendors and manufacturers for sourcing hardware and solutions
- Experience with hazard risk assessments and mitigation plans
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 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, 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
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field
- At least 5 years of experience in manufacturing, testing, R&D, or a related field
- At least 5 years of PLC programming experience
- U.S. Person status or eligibility to obtain an applicable U.S. export license
- Flexible schedule and willingness to travel as needed
- At least 7 years of experience in manufacturing, testing, R&D, or a related field
- Object-oriented programming in structured text according to IEC 61131-3
- Industrial safety experience
- Electrical and fluid schematic design using EPlan
- 3D control panel design using EPlan ProPanel
- Troubleshooting electrical and mechanical systems
- Understanding of ISO 13849, ANSI B11, or IEC 61508 safety standards
- Knowledge of UL508A, NFPA 70, or NFPA 79 standards
- Familiarity with EtherCAT, Profinet, IO-Link, or similar industrial protocols
- Experience working with external vendors and manufacturers to source hardware and solutions
- Experience conducting hazard risk assessments and developing mitigation plans
Am I A Good Fit?
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.
Success! Refresh the page to see how your skills align with this role.
The Company
What We Do
Impulse enables low-cost and nimble last-mile space payload delivery - access any orbit, reach other worlds.
.png)







