Propulsion Engineer – Fluid Systems (LDN Satellite Fleet)

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. We believe our mission is to further research, communications, and exploration beyond low lunar orbit. With multiple NASA lunar missions in the making 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 spacecraft subsystems design, development, and test, on-orbit operations, and safety.

About the Role

We are seeking a Propulsion Engineer to support propulsion system development and verification for the Lunar Data Network (LDN) program. In this role, the engineer will design, build, and operate a flight-representative water flow test stand used to verify propulsion system fluid behavior and validate analytical models that inform flight hardware design. The LDN satellite constellation supports NASA’s Artemis program and future commercial missions by providing navigation, communications, and data services around the Moon, enabling sustained human and robotic exploration.

Beyond this initial focus, the role contributes to propulsion system development across the full lifecycle, including requirements definition, conceptual design, analysis, hardware build, test, verification, and mission operations support. Scope and ownership scale with experience and program needs.

Depending on experience, the position may be filled at the junior engineer or engineer level. The role operates within the propulsion engineering organization and contributes to the broader propulsion engineering team, supporting design, analysis, test, and operations activities across Intuitive Machines’ propulsion system portfolio, including lunar landers, orbital spacecraft, and tugs.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the design, analysis, and development of propulsion systems and components for space flight across monopropellant, bipropellant, cryogenic, and cold gas architectures.
• Contribute to propulsion system requirements development, verification planning, and lifecycle traceability from concept through flight.
• Design, build, and operate propulsion system test equipment in support of development, qualification, and acceptance testing, with a strong emphasis on safety and data quality.
• Validate analytical and system-level fluid models using test data and support verification closure.
• Participate in propulsion hardware integration, anomaly resolution, test readiness reviews, and flight preparation activities.
• Document test configurations, procedures, results, and conclusions for program reviews and verification artifacts.
• Contribute to broader propulsion engineering activities, including fabrication support, supplier interaction, procurement support, procedure development, and on-console mission operations support.

Required Education / Experience / Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering discipline
  • Junior Engineer level: Bachelor’s degree (0–1 years of relevant experience)
  • Engineer level: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree
• Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics and engineering test methods.
• Experience designing, building, or operating laboratory or test hardware.
• Ability to develop test procedures and technical documentation.
• Experience reducing and interpreting test data.
• Proficiency with CAD and engineering analysis tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred / Differentiating Experience

• Background in fluid systems or propulsion testing.
• Familiarity with hydrazine propellant systems, including design considerations, handling constraints, or test environments.
• Hands-on use of instrumentation and data acquisition systems for test execution and data capture.
• Exposure to welding processes, procedures, or inspection.
• Experience developing or operating LabVIEW / National Instruments–based test and control systems.
• Proficiency in engineering data analysis using MATLAB, Python, or similar tools.
• Experience using Creo.

EEOC Statement

Intuitive Machines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration 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.