Senior Robotic Systems Engineer - Lunar Terrain Vehicle

Senior Robotic Systems Engineer - Lunar Terrain Vehicle

Salary: $85,000 - $203,000 based on experience & background (Open across multiple levels)

Glen Burnie, MD

About Intuitive Machines

Intuitive Machines is an innovative and cutting-edge space company making cislunar space accessible to both public and private customers. Our mission is to further science and exploration, communications, and economic progress from the Earth to the Moon and beyond. With the first commercial lunar landing in history, multiple NASA lunar missions in development, and additional private missions on our manifest, we pride ourselves in supporting our customers and the nation in paving the way to return humans to the surface of the Moon. Our world-class team includes experts in all aspects of spacecraft subsystems design, development, and test, on-orbit operations, and safety.

Excellent benefits package, including 26 days of paid vacation and up to 7 paid holidays. Eligible for health care (single and family) on your first day of employment. 401(k) plan with employer match available.

Full-time position - apply now!

About The Position

We are looking for skilled Robotics Engineers to join our team. This position will be located on-site at the IM Mechanisms Annex in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The Robotic Systems Engineer will work in a cross-functional team on the design, development, manufacture and test of space flight and ground support, robotic manipulators and dexterous robotic tools, as well as development testbeds and a robotic Mission Operations Center.

The focus of this role is on the development of the robotic system that will be used on the IM LTV. Experience with robotic manipulators and robotic control systems, as well as compliance control, is highly desired for this position. The role will involve a combination of hands-on setup and driving of robotic manipulators and testbeds as well as development of control systems, algorithms, and user interfaces.

The engineer will assist in the concept development, design, build and test of a variety of articulation and deployment mechanisms associated with Intuitive Machines' vehicles and landers.

*Employment in this role is contingent upon NASA selecting Intuitive Machines as the winner of the LTVS program, scheduled for announcement later in 2025.

Responsibilities

• Own the design and development of robotic systems associated with IM's LTV
• Assist in the development of LTV robotic Concept of Operations (ConOps) and robotic operational procedures
• Own and execute the LTV Robotic Consolidated Test Campaign to exercise the robotic manipulator and all dexterous robotic tools in simulated science collection and maintenance activities in IM's regolith testbed
• Stand up a robotic testbed including a manipulator and operator console
• Manage the design and construction of the LTV Aft Deck Hi Fidelity Mockup to be used as the primary test platform for the manipulator
• Manage the procurement of the LTV robotic manipulator; work closely with the manipulator supplier to ensure system compatibility
• Work with the manipulator supplier to implement software updates and capability upgrades such that the ground demonstration manipulator maintains performance parity with the flight manipulator
• Perform make/buy decisions relating to key robotic subsystem elements
• Build out the robotic simulation tool for trajectory validation, collision avoidance checks, and realtime mission tracking
• Work with autonomy and imaging subsystems to ingest optical and LIDAR sensor data and build on-the-fly terrain maps which can be inserted in the manipulator simulation
• Perform procedure development tests and activity runs in order to develop flight robotic operational procedures

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or related field; M.S./Ph.D. preferred.
• Minimum of 10+ years of experience
• Familiarity with performance requirements development for robotic systems
• Experience in integration and use of robotic control systems such as visual servo and compliance control, especially for space flight
• Experience in devising and performing validation tests of autonomous, semi-autonomous and tele-operated robotic systems, especially for space flight
• Familiarity with robotic control frameworks such as ROS
• Ability to devise higher-level software scripts to automate manipulator functions
• Experience with the generation of work orders, assembly procedures and test plans for mechanisms functional, vibration, thermal vacuum and life testing
• Familiarity with standard practices for assembly and environmental testing of space flight mechanisms as well as the tooling and ground support equipment associated with these tests

Preferred

• Direct experience in rover, spacecraft, or extreme-environment vehicle development
• History of leading full lifecycle robotic system development (design → build → test → flight)
• Familiarity with lunar or planetary mission requirements (dust, vacuum, thermal extremes)
• Published work or recognized contributions in space robotics
• Experience in proposal writing, customer-facing design reviews, and technical leadership

EEOC

Intuitive Machines is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.