Optical Test Engineer II

Impulse Space

Impulse Space

Quality Assurance

USD 115k-165k / year + Equity

Posted on Jun 6, 2026
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As an Optical Test Engineer at Impulse, you will be responsible for designing, procuring, assembling, and operating optomechanical test setups while working closely with a fast paced, agile team that produces high-performance spacecraft from clean sheet designs.

Department
Assembly, Integration & Test
Employment Type
Full Time
Location
Redondo Beach
Workplace type
Onsite
Compensation
$115,000 - $165,000 / year

Responsibilities

  • Design and build optical, mechanical, and electrical systems in support of spacecraft optomechanical components
  • Fully own key test assets and major test programs while collaborating with wide ranging teams across the company
  • Coordinate with external vendors and contractors to meet project technical and schedule objectives
  • Perform test setup, hardware inspections, checkouts and troubleshooting as needed
  • Conduct test operations geared toward rapidly developing hardware for spaceflight
  • Resolve technical issues with innovative and resourceful solutions

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, optical, aerospace, electrical engineering or related field
  • 3+ years of experience in hardware development testing
  • Strong engineering fundamentals in optical, mechanical, and electrical analysis
  • Prior hands-on operational experience working with test facilities
  • Previously demonstrated ownership of test stand design and build-up
  • Able to identify and procure appropriate test equipment
  • Proficient with data acquisition and control methods
  • Demonstrated ability of taking project ownership and working well in small teams

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Advanced degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline
  • 4+ years of experience in hardware development testing
  • Demonstrated hardware testing experience with star trackers, cameras, lasers or other spacecraft optical components
  • Experience with Zemax OpticStudio, Code V, or similar optical modeling tools
  • Familiarity with environmental qualification testing for flight hardware
  • Prior experience with optical alignment and precision metrology
  • Experience in a startup or agile development environment

Additional Requirements:

  • Flexible schedule and willing to travel as needed


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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