Own spacecraft-level autonomous behavior across all mission phases, including autonomy architecture, fault management, safing, recovery logic, mode transitions, and decision boundaries. Coordinate autonomy across flight software, GNC, avionics, and ground systems; define interfaces; configure mission automations; and drive system-level verification using SIL, HIL, and mission simulations. Support integration, testing, and mission operations for safety-critical spacecraft systems.
As a Senior Autonomy Engineer at Impulse Space, you will own spacecraft-level autonomous behavior across all mission phases. You will define how the vehicle detects faults, makes decisions, transitions modes, and safely executes mission objectives with minimal ground intervention.
Responsibilities
- Define the spacecraft autonomy architecture, including modes, states, authority, and decision boundaries
- Own fault management, safing, and recovery logic at the system level
- Coordinate autonomous behavior across flight software, GNC, avionics, and ground systems
- Define and maintain autonomy interfaces and assumptions
- Drive system-level verification using SIL, HIL, and mission simulations
- Configure vehicle automations tied to mission risk and operational needs
- Support integration, test campaigns, and mission operations
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or related engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience with requirements and system-level behavior definition
- Demonstrated hands-on involvement with verification, simulation, or test
- Demonstrated spacecraft autonomy or fault management experience
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Strong systems thinking applied to complex, safety-critical systems
- Ability to reason about failures, edge cases, and operational risk
- Familiarity with flight software, GNC, or mission operations
- Demonstrated experience with state machines, autonomy frameworks, or onboard decision-making
- Demonstrated experience with proximity operations, rendezvous, landing, or deep-space missions
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, 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.
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