Sr. Mechanisms Engineer - Surface Mobility

Surface Mobility and Robotics Mechanisms Engineer – Senior

Glen Burnie, MD

$85,000 - $205,000 

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.

Our Maryland Robotics & Mechanisms Center of Excellence supports the design, fabrication, integration, testing, and production of spacecraft mechanisms and robotic systems.

About The Position 

Intuitive Machines is seeking a highly skilled Mechanisms Engineer to join our team. This position will be located on-site at the IM Robotics and Mechanisms Center in Glen Burnie, Maryland.  The Mechanisms Engineer will work in a cross-functional team on the design, development, manufacture and test of a Mars rover Engineering Development Unit (EDU). The engineer will lead manufacturing and outfitting of the EDU including design and build of traction drive and steering actuators; design and build of a navigation / communication / thermal / solar tower; integration of a 7-DOF robotic manipulator and standard robotic tools for Mars science sample collection; integration of power and computing systems, autonomous navigation instruments, communications elements; and coordination of end-to-end mission demonstration for the customer.

In addition to the primary role, 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.

Responsibilities

• Serve as end-to-end Product Design Lead (PDL) for Mars rover EDU build and outfitting
• Serve as technical lead for traction drive and steering drive actuator design, geartrain development, and actuator integration across the mobility system
• Develop performance specifications for Stepper and BLDC actuators, lead procurement, and oversee testing/characterization
• Perform detailed design of
• Own the design and build of the vehicle Superstructure which includes provisions for navigation sensors, solar array, thermal radiator(s), and communications equipment
• Lead integration of the 7-DOF robotic manipulator to the vehicle; place science collection containers and robotic tools; develop robotic ConOps for science and vehicle maintenance demonstrations; implement software fixes and upgrades as needed
• Own and coordinate assembly and test of the integrated vehicle at IM’s Maryland facility
• Develop, and execute, assembly and test procedures; design test apparatus and data collection methods
• Work closely with the Demonstration Lead and Autonomy Lead to devise meaningful autonomous and teleoperated capability tests
• Interface with cross-disciplinary teams (structures, thermal, avionics, software) to integrate mechanisms into the vehicle
• Perform mechanism analyses including bearing and gear calculations, force and torque margins, lubricant life analysis, rigid and flexible body dynamic simulations
• Generate CAD and drawings of mechanical hardware; perform optimization studies, interference checks, tolerance analysis
• Represent mechanisms engineering at customer and program reviews

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or related field; M.S./Ph.D. preferred.
• Minimum of 10+ years of experience
• Deep expertise in bearing design, geartrain analysis, seal systems, lubrication, stepper and brushless DC actuators and controllers
• Proven ability to manage end-to-end flight hardware procurements, vendors, budgets, and schedules
• Proficiency with Creo and Windchill
• Proficiency with ASME Y14.5 geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) 
• Familiarity with performance requirements development for mechanical and electromechanical systems
• 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
• Familiarity with spaceflight mechanisms topics including motors, bearings and lubricants, geared systems, release mechanisms and robotic systems, and the integration of electrical components such as wire harnesses into these systems
• Familiarity with commonly used space and commercial specifications for materials, processes, fasteners, mechanical components, connectors, wiring, etc.
• Familiarity with common space industry additive and conventional metallic and composite manufacturing processes
• Familiarity with motion simulation software and finite element analysis tools

Preferred

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

Work Environment

Work is performed in a prototype development laboratory and manufacturing environment supporting spacecraft, lunar robotics and aerospace mechanisms.

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.