Test & Automation Software Manager
Impulse Space
USD 165k-195k / year + Equity
Posted on Jun 13, 2025
As the Test & Automation Software Manager at Impulse, you will be responsible for the software infrastructure that supports critical hardware testing of Impulse’s spacecraft components. Your team will develop software internally, manage interfaces with other toolsets and support tests for a wide array of end devices and teams at Impulse. You will work directly with test software and hardware engineers and be responsible for the overall strategy and implementation of ground test and automation software. You will have the opportunity to contribute to all the stages of spacecraft development, from testing initial prototypes to ensuring quality in flight production.
- Department
- Propulsion Engineering
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Redondo Beach
- Workplace type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $165,000 - $195,000 / year
- Reporting To
Responsibilities
- Own and maintain ground test and automation software systems at Impulse
- Work with other stakeholders to gather requirements for data acquisition and controls systems
- Build and manage a team of software engineers that develop, activate and maintain in-house test systems
- Work with outside support to integrate a variety of toolsets for the overall business use
- Develop, deploy, and own data acquisition and control system software in support of liquid rocket propulsion and spacecraft systems testing
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in any relevant engineering field
- 7+ years of demonstrated experience writing software (Python, LabVIEW, C/C++, or any other relevant language)
- 2+ years in a lead or manager role where applicant was responsible for team tasking and performance
- Demonstrated experience working with LabVIEW and PLC software platforms
- Demonstrated experience with managing source control tools, such as git
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Demonstrated experience developing and managing multiple software platforms in growing company environment
- Demonstrated experience using and maintaining a timing-critical data acquisition and control system
- 3+ years of demonstrated experience working with NI (National Instruments) hardware, and/or Beckhoff hardware
- Experience in a startup or agile development environment
- Demonstrated ability of taking project ownership and working well in growing teams
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.
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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