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Mechanical

Structural Dynamics Engineer

Impulse Space logoImpulse Space$120,000–$180,000/yrRedondo Beach, CaliforniaFull TimeAdded 1w ago
  • US citizenship
  • ITAR / US person

How this pay compares

This posting states $120k–$180k a year. Open mechanical engineer jobs in California post a median of $158k a year, the middle half $130k–$180k, across 266 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post.

Mechanical engineers in California: pay by town and employer

About the job

As a Structural Dynamics Engineer at Impulse, your core responsibility will be to determine and validate loads and environments for full vehicles and component subsystems.

You will work closely with a fast-paced, agile team that strives to make a high-performance spacecraft from a clean sheet design. ## Responsibilities - Determine critical loads during launch, deployment, on-orbit operation, and ground handling - Generate and apply forcing functions for engine-borne dynamic excitation - Determine appropriate environments from vibration, acoustic, and shock sources - Develop and improve finite element models of primary structures and mechanisms - Develop and integrate Craig-Bampton reduced models for launch vehicle integration - Generate rigid-body deployment simulations and validate with deployment testing - Analyze and direct dynamic testing from pre-test analysis to post-test correlation - Effectively communicate results to Responsible Engineers and Designers and collaborate on improvements and solutions ## Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering - 4+ years of demonstrated experience with structural dynamic analysis of high performance systems - Proficient with at least one industry standard structural FEA package (Femap/Patran/NASTRAN, ANSYS, Abaqus, etc.) - Demonstrated experience solving structural dynamic or vibration driven problems - Demonstrated experience with time and frequency domain analysis - Demonstrated proficiency with Matlab, Python or similar applications - Demonstrated proficiency with CAD software and the ability to learn new tools - Ability to communicate technical challenges, explain rationale and/or resolve concerns ## Preferred Skills and Experience - A graduate degree (MS / PhD) in engineering or related field working with numerical methods - 6+ years hands-on experience with dynamic structural testing, including: random vibration, acoustics, sine vibration, sine burst, shock, and modal survey - Hands-on experience with sensor selection, test parameter selection, and data analysis - Working knowledge of launch vehicle loads - Demonstrated experience with acoustic vibration analysis software such as VA One - Demonstrated experience working on a launch vehicle or satellite development effort - Previous experience in a startup or agile development environment ## 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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