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Director, Machine Shop

Impulse Space

Impulse Space

Posted on Nov 13, 2025
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As the Director of Impulse's Machine Shop, you lead all machining and precision fabrication operations in support of our mission to build next-generation space systems. This role is responsible for strategic planning, personnel leadership, production quality, and operational excellence across a fast-paced, high-mix machining environment that produces flight and ground hardware.
Department
Manufacturing
Employment Type
Full Time
Location
Redondo Beach
Workplace type
Onsite

Responsibilities

  • Lead day-to-day operations of the company’s machine shop, including CNC programming, milling, turning, inspection, and assembly support
  • Build, develop, and mentor a high-performing team of machinists, programmers, and leads
  • Oversee scheduling, capacity planning, and resource allocation to meet aggressive production and development timelines
  • Implement and drive continuous improvement initiatives in productivity, quality, and safety
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure manufacturability and design intent alignment
  • Maintain and optimize shop floor systems, equipment utilization, and maintenance programs
  • Ensure all machining operations meet aerospace quality standards (AS9100, ISO 9001, etc.)
  • Manage budgets, capital equipment investments, and tooling procurement strategies
  • Champion modern manufacturing technologies such as 5-axis machining, additive integration, and digital manufacturing workflows

Minimum Qualifications


  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field
  • 10+ years of machining/manufacturing experience, with at least 8 years in leadership roles
  • Proven expertise in CNC programming, GD&T, and machining of complex aerospace components
  • Strong knowledge of materials (aluminum, titanium, Inconel, stainless, composites)\
  • Demonstrated experience managing shop operations in a high-mix, low-volume production environment

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • 5+ years of demonstrated experience in the aerospace, space, or defense industry; specifically working on rockets, engines, spacecraft or related hardware
  • Working knowledge of ERP/MES systems and lean manufacturing tools (5S, Kaizen, value stream mapping)
  • Familiarity with additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping integration
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to collaborate across disciplines

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.

Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. 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.

About Impulse Space

Impulse Space, the in-space transportation company founded by Tom Mueller, is opening access beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with its fleet of in-space transportation vehicles. The high-energy Helios vehicle unlocks orbits beyond LEO with its powerful Deneb engine, dropping off payloads in MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. The flight-proven Mira vehicle uses a nontoxic, high-impulse chemical propulsion system to offer orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry services to customers throughout LEO. Led by a team that delivered the most reliable rockets in history, Impulse provides economical and efficient in-space transportation by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go.

Our Hiring Process

Stage 1:

Application Received

Stage 2:

Resume Review

Stage 3:

Intro Phone Interview

Stage 4:

Technical Phone Interview(s)

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