Mission Analysis Engineer
Houston, TX
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 multiple NASA lunar missions in development and additional private missions on our manifest, we pride ourselves in supporting NASA, 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.
About the Position:
Intuitive Machines is seeking a dynamic individual to join our Mission Design Group as a Mission Analysis Engineer. This position requires an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering, astrodynamics, physics, or related technical fields. As a Mission Analysis Engineer, you will have the opportunity to work on challenging problems involving trajectory and mission analysis for lunar and cislunar missions.
Responsibilities:
- Design and develop the suite of mission analysis tools used at Intuitive Machines for lunar and cislunar missions.
- Use the IM mission analysis tools to create launch-to-landing 6-DOF Design Reference Missions.
- Perform trade studies evaluating mission performance, fuel usage, and operational constraints.
- Use industry-standard tools (e.g., Copernicus, GMAT, Python, SPICE) to model and simulate spacecraft trajectories and mission scenarios.
- Conduct Monte Carlo analyses to assess trajectory dispersions and mission robustness.
- Collaborate with Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC), propulsion, simulation, and systems engineering teams to ensure mission feasibility and integration.
- Maintain detailed documentation of tools, analyses, assumptions, and simulation results.
- Support mission operations by analyzing nominal and off-nominal scenarios, generating operational DRMs, and creating products needed to operate spacecraft.
- Maintain and develop the Mission Viewer, an internal website used to disseminate mission information to all IM employees.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, physics, astrodynamics, or a related field.
- Coursework in linear algebra, numerical methods, orbital mechanics, and space mission design.
- Experience in orbital mechanics, numerical methods, and linear algebra required; experience with trajectory design tools (e.g. GMAT, Copernicus, STK) is a plus.
- Proficiency in using Python for aerospace analysis and tool development is required.
- Experience in interfacing between Python and Web-based interfaces (e.g. React, Javascript) is a plus.
- Excellent communication, teamwork, and presentation abilities are needed to work with other technical and management teams
US EEO Statement:
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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, astrodynamics, or a related field
- Coursework in linear algebra, numerical methods, orbital mechanics, and space mission design
- Experience in orbital mechanics, numerical methods, and linear algebra
- Proficiency using Python for aerospace analysis and tool development
- Experience with trajectory design tools such as GMAT, Copernicus, or STK
- Experience interfacing Python with web-based interfaces such as React or JavaScript
- Excellent communication, teamwork, and presentation abilities
What We Do
Intuitive Machines' complete lunar program unlocks the lunar economy to explore the solar system further and gain knowledge for the progress of humanity. As the premier provider of space services and technologies, Intuitive Machines is reestablishing the United States' dominance on the ultimate high ground, the Moon. Designed by the greatest minds in spaceflight, IM's lunar program will send the first American spacecraft to the surface of the Moon since the Apollo program and send the first spacecraft ever to reach the lunar south pole.
