Senior Mechanisms Engineer - Lunar Terrain Vehicle

Senior Mechanisms Engineer - Lunar Terrain Vehicle

NASA LTVS Award Contingent

Location: Glen Burnie, MD

Salary: $95,000 - $203,000 based on experience & background (Across multiple levels)

Full-time position - apply now!

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.

We are looking for a skilled Mechanisms Engineer to join our team. This full‑time position will be located on‑site at the IM Mechanisms Annex in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The Mechanisms Engineer will work in a cross‑functional team on the design, development, manufacture and test of space flight and ground support mechanisms, such as motor‑driven actuators, payload deployers, antenna deployment and articulation devices, gimbal systems, launch hold‑down systems, optical adjustment mechanisms, robotic manipulators and tools, and fluid couplings for cryogenic and rocket propellant systems.

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.

• Serve as end-to-end Product Design Lead (PDL) for one or more mechanisms on the LTV
• Serve as technical lead for bearing design/analysis, geartrain development, and actuator integration across the LTV
• Oversee seal design, sourcing, and verification, ensuring long‑life operation in lunar environments
• Develop performance specifications for Stepper and BLDC actuators, lead procurement, and oversee testing/characterization
• Lead subsystem reviews, requirements definition, and verification planning.
• Interface with cross-disciplinary teams (structures, thermal, avionics, software) to integrate mechanisms into the vehicle
• Drive supplier selection, negotiation, and performance management for machine shops and secondary vendors
• 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
• Devise test programs to demonstrate key mission activities; design test apparatus and data collection systems
• Identify key technical risks/gaps and rapidly prototype and evaluate hardware to drive risks to closure
• Own the design and implementation of integrated subsystem performance tests
• Perform environmental testing to include test plans, test execution, and test results evaluation
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers, ensuring knowledge transfer and best practices
• Represent mechanisms engineering at customer and program reviews

• 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
• Advanced 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,…