Chief Engineer (Spacecraft)

Join Impulse, a leading aerospace company, as the Chief Engineer (Spacecraft). In this role, you will be the technical leader responsible for the vision, execution, and mission success of a spacecraft product line. You will own the system architecture and technical direction from early concept development through launch and on-orbit operations. The ideal candidate will have deep spacecraft engineering expertise, exceptional leadership skills, and experience in fast-paced development environments.

As Chief Engineer (Spacecraft), you will be responsible for the vision, execution, and mission success of a spacecraft product line, owning the system architecture and technical direction from early concept development through launch and on-orbit operations.

You will lead cross-functional technical trade studies and major design decisions to optimize performance, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and cost, while maintaining a deep understanding of all spacecraft subsystems, interfaces, operational concepts, and mission objectives.

Responsibilities

• You will serve as the primary technical authority for the program with customers, government stakeholders, launch providers, and external partners, leading the resolution of major anomalies and technical issues.
• Proven track record of managing hardware programs through the full lifecycle
• Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystem interactions and vehicle-level architecture development
• Deep hands-on familiarity with spacecraft integration, environmental testing, launch campaigns, mission operations, and anomaly resolution

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, or related field

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP security clearance
• Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills in fast-moving technical environments
• 10+ years of demonstrated experience in the spacecraft domain
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams or managing large-scale technical programs
• 12+ years' of experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams or managing large-scale technical programs
• Direct experience serving as Chief Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer, System Lead, or equivalent technical authority for a spacecraft

Active TS/SCI security clearance

• Demonstrated experience scaling engineering organizations and development processes within rapidly growing aerospace companies
• Intimate knowledge of U.S. Department of Defense standards and requirements

Pay

USD 220,000 - 260,000