Senior Mechanical Engineer (Avionics)
- US citizenship
- ITAR / US person
How this pay compares
This posting states $140k–$180k a year. Open electrical engineer jobs in California post a median of $165k a year, the middle half $140k–$188k, across 304 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post.
Electrical engineers in California: pay by town and employer
About the job
As aSenior Mechanical Engineer at Impulsefor our Avionics Team, you are responsible for the design, build, test/analysis & integration of your hardware - working with cross-functional engineering teams to accomplish this.
This means cradle-to-grave ownership of mechanical designs and systems in support of Impulse’s collection of next generation advanced propulsion space vehicles. ## Responsibilities - Lead full-cycle development of avionics hardware from concept through launch - Define system-level requirements and drive mechanical design decisions - Perform detailed analysis of structural dynamics, thermal behavior, vibration, and environmental resilience for avionics components (hand calculations and FEA) - Drive design-for-manufacturability (DFM) and design-for-assembly (DFA) principles across the product lifecycle; engage directly with suppliers to ensure quality and scalability - Collaborate cross-functionally with electrical, propulsion, GNC, and structural engineering teams to architect integrated solutions that optimize vehicle performance and reliability - Define and refine build processes; author comprehensive documentation and work instructions, drawings (with GD&T), and build/test plans - Own and manage the mechanical interface between avionics systems and vehicle structures, ensuring alignment with system-level requirements and constraints - Support and lead structural and thermal qualification testing - Provide technical leadership in design reviews, failure investigations, and continuous improvement initiatives ## Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline - 5+ years of experience in mechanical design, with a focus on aerospace or high-performance electronics systems - Advanced proficiency in CAD tools (e.g., NX, Creo, SolidWorks), with demonstrated ability to lead complex assemblies and mentor junior designers - Deep understanding of precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, and thermal management strategies for avionics enclosures - Expertise in GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and mechanical reliability under dynamic loads - Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly across engineering and manufacturing teams; experience presenting to leadership and external partners - Demonstrated ownership of full product lifecycle - from concept through production and field support ## Preferred Skills and Experience - Masters' degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering - 7 years' of demonstrated mechanical design & analysis with space-flown hardware - 4+ years' of demonstrated understanding of geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T) - 4+ years' of demonstrated experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using FEMAP, Ansys, or similar tools - Experience with mechanical design in challenging vibration/thermal environments - In order to be successful in this role, you should be someone who is uniquely creative, self-driven, and is able to lead his or her own projects to completion - Experience at a startup or agile development environment - Experience with NX and Teamcenter ## 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. To conform to U.S.
Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. 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.
From Impulse Space's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
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About Impulse Space
Transfer vehicles that carry satellites past the orbit their rocket leaves them in.
Pay on its listings: 100% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on Impulse Space's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
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