Site Director, Propulsion Test Facility

Job Description

Job Description

Description

As the Site Director of Impulse's Propulsion Test Facility , you will have full responsibility for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the facility. You will lead all aspects of site operations, including personnel, test execution, facility maintenance, infrastructure, safety, environmental compliance, scheduling, and continuous improvement, ensuring the facility consistently delivers high-quality test capabilities that support development, qualification, and production programs.

The Site Director serves as the senior operational leader for the facility, with accountability for protecting personnel and assets while meeting technical, schedule, and business objectives. This role requires exceptional leadership, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to balance operational priorities across multiple programs. The ideal candidate brings extensive experience with liquid propulsion systems, hazardous operations, and high-performance test facilities, along with a proven track record of building teams and establishing a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and operational accountability for the Propulsion Test Facility, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient execution of all site activities
• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary organization of engineers, technicians, and test operators, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning
• Own all aspects of facility operations, including test execution, infrastructure, maintenance, hazardous operations, and operational readiness
• Establish operational priorities and manage facility schedules, staffing, and resources to support development, qualification, and production test programs
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Facilities, EHS, and Program Management to ensure the facility meets current program objectives while scaling to future business needs
• Oversee facility maintenance, capital improvements, equipment upgrades, and long-term infrastructure planning to maximize capability, reliability, and uptime
• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements while maintaining the highest standards of operational discipline
• Lead root cause investigations, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives to improve safety, quality, reliability, and operational efficiency
• Resolve complex technical and operational challenges through sound engineering judgment, decisive leadership, and effective cross-functional collaboration
• Establish and maintain high technical, operational, and professional standards across the organization
• Serve as the primary decision-maker during critical facility operations and provide clear leadership during off-nominal and emergency situations
• Champion a culture of safety, technical excellence, operational rigor, and ownership throughout the organization

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or a related field
• 10+ years of demonstrated experience in development or production test engineering
• Demonstrated success building and developing high-performing engineering teams
• Demonstrated understanding of fluid systems, instrumentation, data acquisition, and control systems 
• Proven ability to manage complex test operations safely and effectively
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams in fast-paced development environments

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in an engineering discipline or management field
• 12+ years experience in rocket, propulsion, or aerospace test engineering
• Demonstrated experience directing hot-fire tests for liquid rocket propulsion systems
• Extensive knowledge of methane/liquid oxygen or other cryogenic propulsion systems
• Familiarity with test automation, data systems, and safety management
• Experience as a Site Director/Lead

Additional Information

• This role is based on-site at our Mojave Test facility at the Mojave Air & Space Port
• Occasional travel to partner locations may be required
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents due to export control regulations

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.