Senior Build Reliability Engineer (Propulsion)

About the role

Impulse Space is hiring a Senior Build Reliability Engineer (Propulsion) in Redondo Beach. The engineer owns the link between design requirements, manufacturing execution and flight performance for propulsion hardware, working with technicians, manufacturing engineers and supporting teams to prevent defects, diagnose failures quickly and improve reliability across spacecraft builds.

Key responsibilities

• Identify, investigate and eliminate build defects and failures through root cause analysis and corrective actions, inside and outside your work center
• Develop inspection requirements, acceptance criteria and quality control processes aligned with hardware and mission reliability needs, assist in closeout inspections and perform development testing
• Provide design-for-reliability guidance during design reviews and build planning
• Optimize MRP/ERP modules for better hardware trace, data collection and reliability
• Balance inspection and test with lean principles, develop build quality metrics and act as custodian of inspection plans, storage and handling procedures and process control plans
• Train and certify technicians for elevated sign-off privileges, interface with supply chain to improve vendor hardware quality and hold the line on quality standards

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in hardware manufacturing, aerospace, automotive or high-reliability systems
• Demonstrated experience supporting production builds, integration or test of primary structures and/or complex mechanical or electromechanical systems
• Strong problem-solving skills with root cause analysis experience
• Preferred: 7+ years of build reliability experience with spacecraft, launch vehicles, aviation, robotics or defense hardware, and experience with rapid prototyping to production transitions
• U.S. export regulations (ITAR/EAR) apply; applicants must be U.S. persons or eligible to obtain an export license

Required skills

• Theoretical and working knowledge of GD&T
• Preferred: AS9100, ISO 9001 or similar quality systems
• Preferred: reliability engineering concepts (FMEA, reliability growth, Weibull analysis)
• Preferred: propulsion assembly familiarity (valves, cryogenics, high-pressure systems, injectors, feedlines, fluid systems)

What we offer

• Pay of $140,000 - $170,000 per year, depending on role, level, location and skills
• Possible long-term incentives in the form of stock options for full-time hires
• Medical, vision and dental coverage and a 401(k) retirement plan