Job Description
LTV Vehicle Lead - Lunar Terrain Vehicle
(NASA LTVS Award Contingent)
Houston, Texas, United States
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.
The vehicle lead guides a spacecraft through its life cycle from its early conceptual stages to design, development, production, testing, and ultimately to successful flight operations. The lead sets the technical vision for the vehicle based on the customer and organization’s current and future requirements, needs, and objectives. The lead also considers technology maturity, schedule constraints, and mission risk posture when developing the vehicle architecture, and assists senior leadership with prioritizing internal investments and evaluating new business opportunities. The lead plays a key role with business development responding to customer solicitations, shaping requirements, and developing proposals. The lead closely collaborates with senior program and engineering leadership to organize teams to mature the design solution, manage resources, set goals and objectives to guide the development process, and plan out the overall program with key internal and external stakeholders. The lead continues working within this cooperative structure through production and testing to fully realize the vehicle’s technical vision and ensure successful flight operations and desired business outcomes.
*Employment in this role is contingent upon NASA selecting Intuitive Machines as the winner of the LTVS program.
Responsibilities:
- Develop design concepts and architectures for new spacecraft
- Create concepts of operations for new vehicles and architectures
- Assist with proposals and other business development activities
- Collaborate with senior leadership on program planning and execution
- Assess risks, technology maturity, and schedule constraints
- Guide spacecraft development through its complete life cycle
- Organize and lead technical teams to complete development campaigns
- Perform systems engineering functions and manage technical budgets
- Conduct and organize internal and external reviews
- Evaluate hardware vendors and make/buy options
- Facilitate hardware development and test campaigns
- Oversee vehicle assembly, integration, and testing
- Assist with planning mission operations
Qualifications:
Minimum of 5–10 years of experience in human spaceflight programs
10–15 years of broader experience within the aerospace industry or equivalent combination of advanced technical education and experience.
Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
Comprehensive understanding of key spacecraft subsystems, technologies, and environments
Demonstrated interdisciplinary team organization and leadership abilities
Adept at taking initiative and working independently with limited oversight
Experience with the business development process including proposal development
Experience evaluating customer needs and requirements
Proficient at developing vehicle architectures and design concepts
Experience evaluating technology maturity and planning technology development
Adept at creative problem solving and resource management
Knowledge of standard systems engineering processes
Experience organizing and conducting design and analysis cycles
Proficient at managing vehicle technical budgets and resources
Experience conducting technical and program reviews
Familiarity with the aerospace supply chain
Experience with hardware test planning and execution
Familiarity with mission operations
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.