Impulse Space

In-space propulsion and payload mobility

Staff Mission Architect

Aerospace EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeRedondo Beach, CA, USA$175k - $205k /yrIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in a technical field.
At least 8 years of demonstrated experience in aerospace, defense, or the intelligence community in mission analysis, system-of-systems engineering, or operational modeling.
Ability to derive quantitative mission requirements from ambiguous or incomplete customer inputs.
Proficiency with mission-level modeling tools such as STK, AGI Analysis Workbench, and EO/IR performance tools, and scripting languages such as Python and MATLAB.
Familiarity with payload performance modeling, constellation analysis, ground segment architectures, C2 systems, and cyber considerations.
Strong technical writing skills for mission analysis reports, concept studies, and requirements derivation documents.
Eligibility for a U.S. security clearance and ability to obtain TS/SCI.

Responsibilities

Lead mission-level analysis across payloads, constellations, ground systems, C2, cyber, and operational context to define mission success criteria and performance thresholds.
Convert vague customer desires into quantitative “small-r” requirements that guide downstream conceptual design.
Develop and employ mission-level modeling and simulation tools for coverage analysis, NIIRS scoring, gap times, latency modeling, mission availability, constellation behavior, and resilience assessments.
Produce derived requirements for mission elements such as sensitivity, ΔV envelopes, timeline constraints, communications and latency performance, revisit and coverage metrics, and payload-specific performance parameters.
Partner with Advanced Mission Concepts Engineers (AMCEs) to evaluate conceptual solutions against mission requirements and assess the mission impact of engineering-driven tradeoffs, cost reductions, replenishment strategies, or performance adjustments.
Act as the mission architecting lead during early capture phases by shaping mission definitions, requirement frameworks, evaluation criteria, and success metrics before vehicle or system concept formulation.
Support Business Development by generating mission-analysis content for white papers, BAAs, RFIs, challenge submissions, and requirements-shaping discussions with government customers and FFRDC/UARC partners.
Conduct red-team-style assessments to identify mission weaknesses, operational risks, adversary constraints, and system-of-systems considerations that influence requirement prioritization.
Ensure mission architectures incorporate realistic operational constraints such as ground station availability, crosslink integration, cyber and hardening implications, adversary counters, and resilience needs.
Build reusable mission-analysis models and tools so requirements development compounds rather than restarts with each pursuit.
Work with industry and government partners on analysis frameworks, tools, scenarios, and execution of mission analyses.
Engage directly with U.S. Government customers and program offices; travel up to approximately 25%.

As a Staff Mission Architect at Impulse, you will define the mission-level logic that guides our future systems before any vehicle architecture is conceived. This role begins where customer inputs are vague or incomplete — broad mission challenges, loosely defined operational goals, partial technical desirements, or emerging government concepts needing structure. You will transform these uncertainties into quantitative, defensible mission requirements that shape early pursuits and enable disciplined architecture development.

You are the bridge between Business Development and Program Management/Engineering. Business Development brings customer ambitions; you convert them into mission-level requirements; Advanced Mission Concepts Engineers (AMCEs) then develop conceptual system solutions; and Program Management later matures these into full products. You ensure every mission has a clearly articulated analytical foundation before systems design begins.

This role includes direct engagement with U.S. Government customers and program offices, and travel up to approximately 25%.

Lead mission-level analysis across payloads, constellations, ground systems, C2, cyber, and operational context to define mission success criteria and performance thresholds
Convert vague customer desires into quantitative “small-r” requirements that guide downstream conceptual design
Develop and employ mission-level modeling and simulation tools for things such as coverage analysis, NIIRS scoring, gap times, latency modeling, mission availability, constellation behavior, and resilience assessments
Produce derived requirements for mission elements such as sensitivity, ΔV envelopes, timeline constraints, communications/latency performance, revisit and coverage metrics, and payload-specific performance parameters
Partner with AMCEs to evaluate conceptual solutions against mission requirements; assess mission impact of engineering-driven tradeoffs, cost reductions, replenishment strategies, or performance adjustments
Act as the mission architecting lead during early capture phases — shaping mission definitions, requirement frameworks, evaluation criteria, and success metrics before vehicle or system concept formulation
Support Business Development by generating mission-analysis content for white papers, BAAs, RFIs, challenge submissions, and requirements-shaping discussions with government customers and FFRDC/UARC partners
Conduct red-team-style assessments to identify mission weaknesses, operational risks, adversary constraints, and system-of-systems considerations that influence requirement prioritization
Ensure mission architectures incorporate realistic operational constraints such as ground station availability, crosslink integration, cyber/hardening implications, adversary counters, and resilience needs
Build reusable mission-analysis models and tools so requirements development compounds rather than restarts with each pursuit
Work with industry and government partners on analysis frameworks, tools, scenarios, and execution of mission analyses

Bachelor’s degree in a technical field
8+ years of demonstrated experience in aerospace, defense, or intelligence community experience in mission analysis, system-of-systems engineering, or operational modeling
Demonstrated ability to derive quantitative mission requirements from ambiguous or incomplete customer inputs
Proficiency with mission-level modeling tools (e.g., STK, AGI Analysis Workbench, EO/IR performance tools) and scripting languages (Python, MATLAB)
Familiarity with payload performance modeling, constellation analysis, ground segment architectures, C2 systems, and cyber considerations
Strong technical writing skills for mission analysis reports, concept studies, and requirements derivation documents
Eligibility for a U.S. security clearance; ability to obtain TS/SCI

About the Company

Impulse Space

In-space propulsion and payload mobility

Impulse Space builds in-space mobility services and propulsion to move payloads after launch. Its products include Mira for precise maneuvering and rendezvous, Helios high-energy kick stage, Caravan rideshare to higher-energy orbits, and propulsion lines Saiph, Deneb, and Rigel. These tools act as in-space tugs and stages to push, dock, and deploy payloads in orbit. Led by SpaceX veteran Tom Mueller, Impulse Space uses flight-proven hardware and a growing network of facilities to make reaching higher-energy orbits faster and cheaper, expanding access for customers.

Company size: 501-1,000
Company stage: Series D
Total funding: $1.4B
Headquarters: Redondo Beach, CA
Founded: 2021

Recently Posted Jobs

Explore more opportunities at Impulse Space

See more jobs