Development Test Engineering Intern supporting spacecraft and rocket propulsion testing. Responsibilities include designing and building fluid, mechanical, and electrical test systems; setting up and inspecting hardware; troubleshooting equipment; and conducting test operations. The role collaborates with propulsion, avionics, vehicle, integration, and manufacturing teams. Hands-on experience with fluid or mechanical systems is required, while experience with pneumatic, hydraulic, electromechanical, optomechanical, or propulsion test equipment is preferred.
As a Development Test Engineering Intern, you will work on all aspects of development test equipment while working closely with a fast-paced, agile team that strives to make a high-performance spacecraft from a clean sheet design
*This internship is 12 weeks long from May/June through August/September 2027
*This internship is 12 weeks long from May/June through August/September 2027
Responsibilities
- Design and build fluid, mechanical, and electrical test systems in support of rocket propulsion, mechanisms, structural, environmental, and spacecraft systems testing
- Collaborate with wide ranging teams across the company including propulsion, vehicle, avionics, integration, and manufacturing
- Perform test setup, hardware inspections, checkouts and troubleshooting as needed
- Conduct test operations geared toward rapidly developing hardware for spaceflight
Minimum Qualifications
- Recent completion or working towards Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science or related field
- Demonstrated ability to take project ownership and work well in a small team
- Demonstrated hands-on experience working with fluid or mechanical systems
- Preferred Skills and Experience
- Working knowledge of components (valves, regulators, sensors, power supplies) and hands-on skills (tube fabrication, metalworking, wiring)
- Prior experience working with pneumatic, hydraulic, electromechanical, or optomechanical test equipment
- Prior experience in propulsion development and/or testing
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Working knowledge of components (valves, regulators, sensors, power supplies) and hands-on skills (tube fabrication, metalworking, wiring)
- Prior experience working with pneumatic, hydraulic or electromechanical test equipment
- Prior experience in propulsion development and/or testing
Additional Requirements
- Willing and able to work on-site in Redondo Beach, CA or Mojave, CA for the duration of the internship
- This role may require overtime hours; interns are eligible for overtime pay.
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.
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, 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.
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