Senior Autonomy Engineer (Spacecraft)

Impulse Space • Louisville, CO

1d

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Robotics, Systems Engineering, or related engineering discipline
• 5+ years of experience with requirements, interfaces, and system-level behavior definition
• Demonstrated hands-on involvement with verification, simulation, or test

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Aerospace, Robotics, Systems Engineering, or related engineering discipline
• Strong systems thinking applied to complex, safety-critical systems
• Ability to reason about failures, edge cases, and operational risk
• Spacecraft autonomy or fault management experience
• Familiarity with flight software, GNC, or mission operations
• Experience with state machines, autonomy frameworks, or onboard decision-making
• Experience with proximity operations, rendezvous, landing, or deep-space mission

Responsibilities

• Define the spacecraft autonomy architecture, including modes, states, authority, and decision boundaries
• Develop and allocate autonomy requirements tied to mission risk and operational needs
• Own fault management, safing, and recovery logic at the system level
• Coordinate autonomy behavior across flight software, GNC, avionics, and ground systems
• Define and maintain autonomy interfaces and assumptions
• Drive system-level autonomy verification using SIL, HIL, and mission simulations
• Support integration, test campaigns, and mission operations

Benefits

• long-term incentives, in the form of stock options
• access to medical, vision & dental coverage
• access to a 401(k) retirement plan

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior