Manager, Opto-Mechanical Manufacturing

Stefan Forschner 9/8/2026 3:08 PM Contact me at stefan.forschner@impulsespace.com with any questions. We have the following open position at Impulse Space: Manager, Opto-Mechanical Manufacturing Link to Job Posting Department Manufacturing Employment Type Full Time Location Redondo Beach Workplace type Onsite Compensation $175,000 - $205,000 / year As the Manager, Opto-Mechanical Manufacturing at Impulse, you will provide leadership and mentorship to a team of opto-mechanical manufacturing engineers. You will own opto-mechanical manufacturing across the company for all our products. Your leadership will directly impact the performance and reliability of all vehicles we send into orbit. Responsibilities Recruit and lead a team of opto-mechanical manufacturing engineers and technicians, including providing mentorship and developing the teamProvide guidance to a team of engineers designing manufacturing lines for star trackers, cameras and sun sensorsDevelop and optimize metrology processes for opto-mechanical assemblies in productionDesign tooling for alignment of lens assemblies and drive assembly and ATP of opto-mechanical assembliesCollaborate with optical design engineers to ensure manufacturability, DFM/DFA of optical assemblies, including custom spherical and aspherical lenses/mirrorsStreamline manufacturing processes while improving rate, quality and reliabilityStand up a new cleanroom for the production of opto-mechanical devicesBuild up acceptance testing (ATP) capability of opto-mechanical hardware, including functional and environmental testingLead the effort in collaborating with design engineers to ensure manufacturability and provide input in PDR and CDR reviewsStay up-to-date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to drive innovation Minimum Qualifications Bachelors' degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related field6+ years of demonstrated opto-mechanical manufacturing experience (or related field), preferably in a high-reliability environment6+ years of optical metrology equipment experience, such as centration measurements, interferometry and wavefront sensors3+ years of experience in a people management roleStrong track record of and commitment to developing and mentoring people Deep understanding of manufacturing processes and materials used in opto-mechanical manufacturingFamiliar with mechanical design and GD&T using NX and Teamcenter Preferred Skills And Experience MS/PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related field6+ years of demonstrated manufacturing experience in opto-mechanical manufacturing for space applications6+ years of experience in a people management roleExperience with scaling up a team in a startup environment Knowledge of thermal cycling, vibration and TVAC for space applications Experience with adhesives, glasses, ceramics and metals used for space applications Knowledge of theodolites, autocollimators, laser trackers and basic planar optical alignmentKnowledge of setting testing light sources, including solar simulators, laser diodes and black body sources Knowledge of finite and infinite conjugate lens set-ups Knowledge of both refractive and reflective methods of collimation 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.