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Impulse Space seeks a Staff or Principal Manufacturing Engineer to own end-to-end ceramic matrix composite (CMC) manufacturing capability for ultra-high-temperature propulsion applications. You will drive the complete lifecycle from material selection and process development through qualified, flight-ready hot-section hardware production.
Key responsibilities include:
• Own and mature manufacturing processes for C/SiC and related ceramic composites, from preform architecture through densification, machining, and coating.
• Develop and qualify densification and joining processes (CVI, PIP, brazing), including furnace cycle definition, tooling, fixturing, and run-to-run repeatability.
• Analyze candidate fiber, matrix, and coating systems; build supply chain strategy by qualifying vendors, dual-sourcing critical materials, and de-risking long-lead precursors.
• Define inspection, acceptance, and validation approaches for manufactured parts using NDI methods (CT, ultrasonic, thermography), coupon testing, allowable development, and first-article inspection.
• Author and own process specifications, travelers, and work instructions; drive configuration control and change management.
• Design tooling, mandrels, and shop aids for CMC part fabrication and assembly.
• Partner with propulsion, structures, and thermal teams on design-for-manufacturability feedback to embed producibility early.
• Lead root-cause investigations on process escapes and drive corrective actions using structured problem-solving.
• Scale manufacturing from prototype to rate production: capital equipment selection, facility layout, cycle time, yield, and cost optimization.
• Work directly with floor technicians and machinists to produce flight hardware.
• Own the technical roadmap for CMC manufacturing capability, sequencing process development, capital investment, and qualification milestones.
• Mentor engineers and technicians; establish technical standards for high-temperature materials manufacturing.
Required qualifications: Bachelor's degree in engineering, materials science, chemistry, physics, or related field. 5+ years developing or producing high-temperature materials, advanced composites, CMCs, carbon-carbon, refractory metals, or comparable systems (or Master's with 3+ years, or PhD with 1+ hands-on years). Demonstrated aerospace, defense, hypersonics, gas turbine, nuclear, energy, or industrial ceramics experience.
