What are the responsibilities and job description for the Systems Engineer Lead – LDN Space Segment position at Intuitive Machines?
Systems Engineer Lead – LDN (Lunar Data Network) Space Segment
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 an experienced Systems Engineering Lead to support the Lunar Data Network (LDN) Program. This individual will work in close partnership with the Program Managers, serving as a technical leader in defining, integrating, and validating system-level requirements across the Space Segment/Space Relay element of LDN. The Systems Engineering Lead will collaborate internally across Intuitive Machines’ engineering disciplines and externally with partner companies to ensure seamless integration and mission success.
Responsibilities
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.
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 an experienced Systems Engineering Lead to support the Lunar Data Network (LDN) Program. This individual will work in close partnership with the Program Managers, serving as a technical leader in defining, integrating, and validating system-level requirements across the Space Segment/Space Relay element of LDN. The Systems Engineering Lead will collaborate internally across Intuitive Machines’ engineering disciplines and externally with partner companies to ensure seamless integration and mission success.
Responsibilities
- Partner with the Systems Engineering Manager to lead system-level engineering activities across the LDN Space Segment.
- Provide technical leadership in the integration of spacecraft subsystems, including avionics, energy management, sensors, controls, software, and communications.
- Conduct requirements analysis and flow-down, ensuring alignment with customer needs, mission objectives, and NASA standards.
- Develop and maintain the system architecture, interface definitions, and integration plans.
- Lead verification and validation (V&V) planning and execution for system requirements and performance.
- Identify and manage technical risks, develop mitigation strategies, and drive issues to closure.
- Collaborate closely with Intuitive Machines’ internal teams and external partners to ensure subsystem interoperability.
- Generate and maintain technical documentation, including requirements, interface control documents, and test procedures.
- Represent systems engineering in design reviews, milestone reviews, technical interchange meetings. The Space Segment SE will be the primary technical interface to our NASA SE&I customers.
- Mentor junior systems engineers and support continuous improvement of systems engineering processes.
- Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering; Master’s preferred.
- Minimum of 10–15 years of experience in systems engineering, data network development, spacecraft development, satellite development, and/or ground systems development, with leadership experience on large, multi-disciplinary programs.
- Strong foundation in requirements analysis, system architecture, integration, and V&V.
- Experience with data network systems, including avionics, autonomy, sensors, or energy systems.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills; able to work effectively across internal teams and with partner companies.
- Demonstrated ability to lead system integration on complex aerospace programs.
- Familiarity with NASA standards and spaceflight development processes strongly preferred.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, if required.
- Prior experience supporting lunar, or exploration vehicle programs.
- Experience with GEO, MEO, or LEO satellite missions.
- Experience with cross-company collaboration on NASA or large aerospace contracts.
- Background in leading multi-partner reviews, technical baseline management, and interface control.
- Experience mentoring or developing early-career systems engineers.
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.