Staff Manufacturing Engineer (CMC Applications)

About the role

Impulse Space is hiring a Staff or Principal Manufacturing Engineer for CMC Applications in Redondo Beach. You will own the end-to-end ceramic matrix composite manufacturing capability, from material selection and process development to qualified, flight-ready hot-section hardware, working across propulsion, structures, materials and quality and directly with floor technicians.

Key responsibilities

• Own and mature the manufacturing process for C/SiC and related ceramic composite hardware, from preform architecture through densification, machining and coating.
• Develop and qualify densification and joining processes (CVI, PIP, brazing), including furnace cycles, tooling, fixturing and run-to-run repeatability.
• Analyze fiber, matrix and coating systems and build the supply chain strategy, qualifying vendors and dual-sourcing critical materials.
• Define inspection, acceptance and validation approaches, NDI methods (CT, ultrasonic, thermography), coupon tests, allowable development and first-article inspection.
• Author process specifications, travelers and work instructions, and drive configuration control and change management.
• Design tooling, mandrels and shop aids, partner with propulsion, structures and thermal teams on DFM, lead root-cause investigations and scale from prototype to rate production.
• Work with technicians and machinists to produce flight hardware, own the technical roadmap and mentor engineers and technicians.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, materials science, chemistry, physics or a related field.
• 5+ years developing or producing high-temperature materials or advanced composites, or a Master's with 3+ years, or a PhD with 1+ years of hands-on experience.
• Demonstrated experience in aerospace, defense, hypersonics, gas turbine, nuclear, energy or industrial ceramics.
• U.S. person or eligible to obtain an export license, due to ITAR and EAR restrictions.

Required skills

• Preferred: CMC manufacturing for flight hardware, CVI densification, vacuum and high-temperature furnace operation, rocket engine propulsion fundamentals, fiber preform architecture, NDI, FEA of anisotropic materials, Lean, Six Sigma, SPC, AS9100 and moving a process to rate production.

What we offer

• Pay of $175,000 - $215,000 per year, with possible long-term incentives such as stock options.
• Medical, vision and dental coverage and a 401(k) retirement plan for full-time hires.