Lead Test Technician

Impulse Space • Redondo Beach, CA

13d • $40 - $50 • Onsite

About The Position

As a Lead Test Technician at Impulse, you will oversee the Test Operations team that is responsible for executing a broad range of environmental, functional, and integrated tests that validate spacecraft hardware. This includes vacuum, vibration, pressure, thermal, HITL (hardware-in-the-loop), mechanism, and component-level propulsion testing. As a Lead Test Technician, you will serve as a technical leader on the floor—building test setups, running tests, unblocking the team, and shaping the standards and processes that keep our testing operations safe, efficient, and high-fidelity. This is a fully fledged lead role with significant room for continued growth.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace, environmental testing, hardware integration, or similar hands-on test operations
• Experience building and checking out pressure, vacuum, or mechanical-fluid systems
• Strong proficiency with sensors, DAQ hardware, instrumentation, and system-level integration
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret technical drawings, procedures, and test plans
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting mechanical, fluid, or electrical-instrumentation issues
• Strong communication skills and comfort coordinating with cross-functional engineering teams

Nice To Haves

• Experience with vacuum chambers, thermal systems, vibration tables, or HITL test architectures
• Familiarity with cryogenic fluids (e.g., LN₂) and associated safety practices
• Experience writing, reviewing, and maintaining test procedures and operational documentation
• Prior experience mentoring or training technicians
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality, safe work
• Operational understanding of sensor types used for pressure, temperature, load, and flow measurement
• Ability to identify process gaps and drive continuous improvement initiatives

Responsibilities

• Build, assemble, instrument, and check out test setups across vacuum, vibe, pressure, thermal, HITL, and mechanism environments, including occasional LN₂ and propulsion component testing
• Operate test equipment, integrate sensors/DAQ hardware, and troubleshoot mechanical, pneumatic, electrical-instrumentation, and system-level issues
• Act as the day-to-day technical lead: delegate work, balance team workload, make triage/priority calls, and serve as the first point of escalation for technical blockers
• Participate in design reviews and provide operational feedback on testability, integration, execution sequencing, and baseline safety
• Review and refine test procedures; contribute to clear, accurate documentation; and ensure test readiness across tooling, fixtures, instrumentation, and facility resources
• Train and mentor technicians across levels, develop structured training materials, and guide the team in building formal training content and shared standards
• Champion safe operations across pressure, vacuum, cryogenic, electrical-instrumentation, and mechanical systems while upholding high-quality build and execution standards
• Communicate status, risks, and needs clearly with engineering, program management, and leadership

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees