Chief Engineer (Interceptors)

Job description

As a Chief Engineer (Interceptors) at Impulse, you will be the technical authority responsible for the architecture, development, and mission success of next-generation national security space systems. This role owns the end-to-end technical direction of a high-performance interceptor platform operating in demanding mission environments with extreme reliability, responsiveness, and operational constraints. The ideal candidate combines deep spacecraft and missile-defense expertise with exceptional systems engineering leadership and execution. As Chief Engineer, you will partner closely with engineering, manufacturing, test, mission operations, and executive leadership to drive technical decisions, manage program risk, and ensure delivery of highly reliable space systems. Own the system architecture and technical baseline across the full program lifecycle Lead cross-functional technical trade studies and major design decisions to optimize performance, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and cost Maintain deep understanding of all subsystems, interfaces, operational concepts, and mission objectives Drive the program technical roadmap in partnership with subsystem leads and subject matter experts while balancing performance, reliability, schedule, risk, and cost Establish and uphold a high standard of engineering rigor, technical discipline, and configuration control throughout development and operations Identify technical, operational, and programmatic risks early and develop mitigation strategies to ensure mission success Define and oversee vehicle-level readiness and certification processes, including major design reviews, test readiness reviews, and mission readiness activities Serve as the primary technical authority for the program with customers, government stakeholders, launch providers, and external partners Lead resolution of major anomalies and technical issues, driving root cause investigations and corrective actions through closure Champion continuous improvement across vehicle design, production, testing, operations, and organizational processes 10+ years of relevant experience in the spacecraft domain 5+ years of experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams or managing large-scale technical programs Proven track record of managing hardware programs through the full lifecycle Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills in fast-moving technical environments Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP security clearance Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, or related field