At Impulse, building reliable, high-performance space vehicles requires rigorous testing in a high-energy environment. Our Mojave test facility is, as Andy Mack, Lead Test Engineer in Mojave, puts it, where fire meets metal. It’s where propulsion systems are conceived, pushed to their limits, and refined for flight. We sat down with Andy to explore what makes working in Mojave such a pivotal and exciting part of our mission.
Why did you choose to work in Mojave?
I grew up obsessed with airplanes and rockets around the time the commercial space industry was taking off in Mojave. It’s always been a place where the coolest companies come to push the boundaries of commercial space.
Mojave has an incredible history in aerospace testing. Because of the remote location, you can safely conduct high-energy testing, and yet you're still within two hours of Los Angeles. This place attracts the most passionate people doing the most exciting stuff in aerospace, whether it’s airplanes or rockets. I’m here during the week doing rockets at Impulse, and on the weekends, I’m out flight testing my race airplane and flying with my friends.
What makes the Mojave test facility unique?
One of the most exciting aspects of working for Impulse and being in testing specifically is the ownership. You have the opportunity to own every aspect of the test facility: fluid systems, electrical systems, data systems, design, build, and then execution of testing objectives. Impulse has taken a very unique approach to the design of our test facility in Mojave. We looked at it from first principles and built in a lot of efficiency and flexibility through modularity.
With design, test, and build all owned by Impulse, the Mojave team is able to rapidly iterate on Deneb engine test stand, as well and new engine stands in development.
What’s the value of testing at Impulse—and why do you enjoy it?
Testing is where the rubber meets the road. It’s more than just running tests; it's about owning the entire lifecycle. You take a project from initial conception through design, procurement, build, activation, and operations. It makes you a well-rounded engineer, and you get this direct feedback loop that's critical to iterating and improving.
What excites you most about the work happening in Mojave right now?
The Mojave team is responsible for some of the largest and most consequential testing done at Impulse, including engine and stage testing. We are growing quickly to develop new capabilities for structural and propulsion testing of the Helios vehicle as well as multiple new engine test stands across three test sites. The opportunity to build these systems from a clean sheet is what excites me the most about coming to work in Mojave every day.
What would you say to future Impulse teammates?
If you're excited about pushing the boundaries of space mobility in a fast-paced, high-stakes, hands-on environment, we want you on the team. Mojave is where we make it happen.
To join us, apply to one of our open roles.
