Impulse Space

Senior Mission Design Engineer

Posted 6 Days Ago

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Redondo Beach, CA, USA

In-Office

120K-180K Annually

Senior level

Aerospace • Software

The Role

Lead design and optimization of in-space servicing missions: create CONOPS, maneuver plans, trajectory and budget analyses, build analysis tools, integrate results into proposals, engage customers, and coordinate with engineering for simulations and verification.

Summary Generated by Built In

As a Senior Mission Design Engineer at Impulse Space, you will lead the design and optimization of in-space servicing missions that meet — and exceed — customer requirements. You’ll sit within the Mission Management team and work hands‑on with Business Development and Engineering to shape mission concepts, craft proposals, and ensure every solution is technically robust. This role includes direct customer engagement and occasional travel.

Responsibilities

Design mission concepts that efficiently achieve customer objectives
Stay current on the technical performance and capabilities of Impulse’s product lines
Build tools that rapidly analyze, interpret, and visualize mission design results
Integrate mission design details into high‑quality written proposals
Meet with customers to capture requirements and gather feedback on proposed solutions
Evaluate mission concepts for performance and identify improvements
Partner with Engineering to advance spacecraft simulation and trajectory optimization tools
Collaborate with Business Development to understand customer needs and establish the most compelling approach for each proposal opportunity
Drive key mission design tasks such as CONOPS development, maneuver planning, trajectory optimization, requirements verification, CAD fit checks, propellant and power budgeting, and link budget analysis

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a technical field
4+ years in a technical engineering role
Strong ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and professionally
Working knowledge of orbital mechanics and spacecraft operations
Functional understanding of spacecraft systems and payload accommodations
Proficiency in at least one programming language (Python preferred)

Preferred Skills and Experience

Master’s degree in a technical field
Active TS/SCI security clearance or willingness to obtain one
Experience in customer‑facing roles
Hands‑on experience assembling spacecraft, supervising spacecraft build, or integrating payloads
Experience operating spacecraft in orbit
Broad familiarity with the space industry
Proven ability to operate effectively in a startup environment
Experience with CAD tools
Experience building physics simulations or using orbital simulation software

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 technical field
4+ years in a technical engineering role
Strong ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and professionally
Working knowledge of orbital mechanics and spacecraft operations
Functional understanding of spacecraft systems and payload accommodations
Proficiency in at least one programming language
Master's degree in a technical field
Active TS/SCI security clearance or willingness to obtain one
Experience in customer-facing roles
Hands-on experience assembling spacecraft, supervising spacecraft build, or integrating payloads
Experience operating spacecraft in orbit
Broad familiarity with the space industry
Proven ability to operate effectively in a startup environment
Experience with CAD tools
Experience building physics simulations or using orbital simulation software