Sr. Mechanisms Engineer - Surface Mobility

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2 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $85,000.00 To $ Annually

$85,000 - $205,000

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.

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 inGlen 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.

• 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 Con Ops 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…