Senior Propulsion Development Engineer (Fluids)

Department: Propulsion • Employment Type: Full Time • Location: Redondo Beach • Workplace type: Onsite

About Impulse Space

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.

Responsibilities

• Own all aspects of a storable, liquid propellant system development
• Architect and layout fluids systems on a high delta-V, storable propellant propulsion system
• Conduct analysis and testing to ensure that the performance and function of hardware meets intent
• Prepare, plan and execute tests including propellant and pressurization system 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

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or science
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience in the aerospace propulsion field
• Prior experience working liquid rocket propulsion systems, including hardware and test experience with flow control systems
• 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
• Flexible schedule and willing to travel as needed
• Must be a U.S. Person (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 eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies

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 propulsion system architecture and layout for low mass fraction vehicle designs
• Prior experience with nitrous oxide as a propellant
• Proficiency in CAD software with ability to learn new tools
• Cross disciplinary fluid analysis experience (e.g. hand calc, fluid network modeling)
• 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

Pay

$135,000 - $185,000 / year

Benefits

• Long-term incentives in the form of stock options
• Medical, vision & dental coverage
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan