Optical Test Engineer II

Company: impulsespace
Location: Redondo Beach, California
Type: onsite
Posted: Aug 19, 2026
Views: 0
As an Optical Test Engineer at Impulse, you will be responsible for designing, procuring, assembling, and operating optomechanical test setups while working closely with a fast paced, agile team that produces high-performance spacecraft from clean sheet designs.

  • Design and build optical, mechanical, and electrical systems in support of spacecraft optomechanical components
  • Fully own key test assets and major test programs while collaborating with wide ranging teams across the company
  • Coordinate with external vendors and contractors to meet project technical and schedule objectives
  • Perform test setup, hardware inspections, checkouts and troubleshooting as needed
  • Conduct test operations geared toward rapidly developing hardware for spaceflight
  • Resolve technical issues with innovative and resourceful solutions

  • Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, optical, aerospace, electrical engineering or related field
  • 3+ years of experience in hardware development testing
  • Strong engineering fundamentals in optical, mechanical, and electrical analysis
  • Prior hands-on operational experience working with test facilities
  • Previously demonstrated ownership of test stand design and build-up
  • Able to identify and procure appropriate test equipment
  • Proficient with data acquisition and control methods
  • Demonstrated ability of taking project ownership and working well in small teams

  • Advanced degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline
  • 4+ years of experience in hardware development testing
  • Demonstrated hardware testing experience with star trackers, cameras, lasers or other spacecraft optical components
  • Experience with Zemax OpticStudio, Code V, or similar optical modeling tools
  • Familiarity with environmental qualification testing for flight hardware
  • Prior experience with optical alignment and precision metrology
  • Experience in a startup or agile development environment

Additional Requirements:

  • Flexible schedule and willing to travel as needed


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.

Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. 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.
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About the Company

Name: impulsespace
Location: Not specified
Website: https://www.impulsespace.com

Our mission is to accelerate humanity's future in space through efficient transportation anywhere; GEO, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Impulse is the way to get your payload anywhere in space. Space is more accessible than ever, but efficiently moving payloads & satellites still remains a challenge. We alleviate this by building nimble, economical and powerful capabilities to access any orbit. At Impulse, we hire individuals with a record of demonstrated excellence, those who are always curious, and those fully committed to the mission. We are a team of innovators, willing to challenge the status quo and persevere through obstacles to achieve exceptional results. From engineers who helped build Falcon 1, to those who built the latest college FSAE vehicles (and everything in between); we pride ourselves on having a diverse skillset of technical depth. To achieve success for our customers - we are building Helios, a high-energy kick stage that will bring large payloads & satellites from LEO to GEO. We are also building Mira, a hosting and orbital transfer vehicle that is optimized to make the trip to and operate in LED & GEO. Space is hard, and we're here to make it easier for our customers. You will help build the tools and capability to do just that.

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