Manager, Spacecraft Testbeds (HITL/HIL)Department: Assembly, Integration & Test
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Redondo Beach
Compensation: $175,000 - $205,000 / year
DescriptionAs
the Spacecraft Testbed Engineering Manager at Impulse, you'll lead a team responsible for designing, developing, and delivering spacecraft testbeds, including ironbirds, flatsats, and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) test systems. You'll work closely with Software, GNC, and Avionics teams to translate testing requirements into reliable hardware solutions, ensuring testbeds are delivered on schedule and ready to support vehicle development and mission validation.
Responsibilities- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers responsible for spacecraft testbed hardware design, integration, and deployment
- Collaborate with Flight Software, Embedded Software, GNC, and Avionics teams to define testbed requirements and translate simulation and validation needs into hardware designs
- Own the electrical and hardware architecture of spacecraft ironbirds, flatsats, and HITL testbeds, including avionics interfaces, simulation hardware, and supporting equipment
- Establish technical priorities, project schedules, resource plans, and delivery milestones to support vehicle development and test campaigns
- Oversee the design and development of custom electrical interfaces, load boards, harnesses, and supporting test hardware
- Coordinate engineering and technician resources to ensure timely fabrication, assembly, integration, commissioning, and checkout of spacecraft testbeds
- Align testbed hardware architecture with Avionics Test and Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) platforms, leveraging common designs, components, and tooling
- Ensure testbed reliability, maintainability, and scalability through standardized designs, processes, and documentation
- Provide technical leadership in troubleshooting complex electrical and hardware-software integration issues
Minimum Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
- 7+ years of experience developing electrical test systems, including hardware-in-the-loop (HITL), avionics integration, embedded hardware testing, or related fields
- 2+ years of experience leading engineering teams, projects, or technical programs
- Strong understanding of electrical test system design, avionics interfaces, instrumentation, and hands-on electrical troubleshooting
- Experience designing and deploying complex electrical test systems involving instrumentation, signal conditioning, and hardware interfaces
- Experience managing engineering schedules, resources, and deliverables across multiple concurrent projects
- Strong communication, organizational, and technical problem-solving skills
Preferred Skills and Experience- Experience managing, mentoring, and developing multidisciplinary engineering teams
- Experience developing ironbirds, flatsats, or HITL testbeds for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or other complex embedded systems
- Familiarity with HITL software architectures, real-time simulation, and their implications for hardware selection and system design
- Experience with avionics test equipment, EGSE, and reusable test hardware platforms
- Strong electrical troubleshooting skills across analog and digital systems
- Familiarity with Linux-based systems, Python, C++, and hardware-software integration
- Experience with networking (TCP/IP, serial protocols) and remote hardware control
- Experience establishing standardized hardware architectures and coordinating fabrication, assembly, and deployment across multiple programs
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.
