39.0000° N, 98.0000° W

Impulse Space

Structural Dynamics Engineer

Redondo Beach$120,000 - $180,000 / yearPosted Aug 27, 2026
Disciplineengineering
Workplace typeon-site
EmploymentFull Time

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.

Compensation (from employer):

$120,000 - $180,000 / year

Skills and experience

structural dynamic analysisFEAMatlabPythonCAD