What are the responsibilities and job description for the Propulsion Engineer - Plumbing Design and Fabrication position at Intuitive Machines LLC?
Propulsion Engineer – Plumbing Design and Fabrication
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 Plumbing Design and Fabrication Engineer to support the design, CAD routing, fabrication, and assembly of propulsion system plumbing and associated ground and flight hardware. This role will be responsible for generating and maintaining plumbing layouts and detailed manufacturing drawings using industry-standard CAD tools, while also supporting welding, assembly, and facility readiness activities in execution of propulsion hardware builds. Depending on experience, the position may be filled at the junior engineer or engineer level and will operate within the propulsion engineering organization, contributing to both dedicated fabrication efforts and broader propulsion system development and test activities.
Responsibilities
- Design and route propulsion system plumbing, including tubing, fittings, brackets, and interfaces
- Generate and maintain detailed CAD models, drawings, and build documentation to support fabrication and assembly
- Design and implement welding fixtures and support development and execution of welding procedures, process controls, and inspection practices
- Provide engineering oversight of fabrication, welding, assembly, and integration activities for propulsion hardware
- Assist with propulsion system assembly, checkout, and integration for ground test and flight hardware
- Support anomaly resolution and rework activities associated with plumbing and fabricated hardware
- Contribute to general propulsion engineering tasks as required, supporting system build, test, and operations efforts
Required Qualifications
- 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
- Experience or demonstrated capability in CAD-based mechanical design and detailing (CREO, SolidWorks, or similar), including fabrication drawings
- Working understanding of fluid or pressure systems, including tubing, fittings, and basic propulsion or pressurization concepts, or demonstrated ability to learn in a flight hardware environment
- Ability and willingness to work hands-on in a lab or shop environment in support of hardware fabrication and assembly
- Strong attention to detail, configuration control, and safety in execution of flight or test hardware
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary engineering environment and manage multiple parallel tasks
- Clear written and verbal communication skills and alignment with Intuitive Machines core values: Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Excellence
Preferred / Differentiating Experience
- Experience supporting aerospace, propulsion, pressure systems, or test hardware
- Exposure to propulsion system integration, ground testing, or launch operations
- Experience with welding processes, procedures, or inspection (hands-on or oversight)
- Familiarity with manufacturing workflows, travelers, or build records
- Experience using CREO for mechanical design, with preference for Creo Piping or similar tubing and routing tools
- Experience working closely with technicians, welders, or fabrication personnel
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.