Staff Systems Engineer at Intuitive Machines in Palo Alto, CA

Staff Systems Engineer

Location: Palo Alto, CA

Please review the job details below.





Engineering that outlasts careers, orbits, and expectations.

You've spent your career solving hard problems. We've spent 60+ years solving the hardest ones in space — from antennas still talking to Voyager in interstellar space, to satellites connecting the world, to spacecraft studying asteroids and supporting national security.

We're not looking for someone to fill a seat. We're looking for engineers who want their work to matter for decades — on missions like NASA's SR-1 program and the Space Development Agency's national security initiatives.

If that's you, let's build what's next — together.

Intuitive Machines is looking for a Staff Systems Engineer who can apply their knowledge and experience in the execution of the system engineering process and in leading cross functional teams. The ideal candidate will apply the systems engineering discipline to complex spacecraft designs including ConOps development, requirements management, requirements decomposition & flowdown as well as interface management across multiple elements of the spacecraft system. As the program progresses, your focus would transition to integration, verification, and validation activities. The preferred location for this role is our Palo Alto office in California.

Intuitive Machines is a leading space infrastructure company that builds spacecraft, connects networks, and operates infrastructure-as-a-service for commercial, civil, and national security customers. With a proven track record across the space domain, the Company, through organic growth and portfolio expansion, has built over 300 spacecraft, delivered over 260 kilograms of payload to the lunar surface, and provided precision navigation expertise that has guided spacecraft across our solar system.

You will be responsible for some or of all of the following:

• Support development of system Concept of Operations (ConOps) and Use Cases
• Drive system analysis and mission level trades
• Develop, decompose, and flow requirements at the mission, system, subsystem, and component levels
• Manage requirements development and maintenance
• Develop and maintain system budgets (mass, power, data)
• Develop and execute full system validation and verification plan
• Lead customer discussions regarding system design decisions
• Define and conceptualize interface & operability requirements
• Generate and maintain compliance matrix for system and subsystems
• Facilitate collaboration across subsystems engineers to ensure compliance
• Oversee spacecraft testing and review test results
• Role model interpersonal behaviors that promote psychological safety and belonging within the organization
• Provide technical oversight to ensure the expected quality, rigor, and discipline of systems engineering is maintained
• Ensure technical teams properly identify technical risks and opportunities, implement appropriate risk mitigation and action plans, and drive mitigation of risks to meet programmatic timelines
• Lead resolution of complex cross-subsystem technical issues and drive closure of open actions
• Support proposal development and help explore new business opportunities that capitalize on our company's strengths

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be a US citizen or permanent resident
• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline, physics, or STEM field. Four additional years of experience may be substituted for a degree.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in systems engineering or real-time control of complex of systems

• Systems Engineering experience across multiple interacting hardware and software subsystems
• General understanding of spacecraft design and product life cycle

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the Guidance/Navigation/Control, Power, Thermal, or Fault Management sub-systems design and verification
• Previous experience working on United States Government programs
• Experience with any requirements management systems (i.e. DOORS, JAMA, etc.)
• Experience developing technical processes, and tailoring processes for unique programs
• Experience coding in C, C++, Python, or Matlab & creating software tools for verification activities is a plus
• Familiarity with system architecture, verification, and validation
• Familiarity with NASA, DoD, ECSS, or other applicable aerospace standards
• Familiarity with risk management
• Good communication and presentation skills

The successful candidate will provide technical leadership at the spacecraft system level, connecting mission objectives and system requirements to detailed subsystem implementation.





In support of pay transparency at Lanteris Space Systems, we disclose salary ranges on all U.S. job postings. The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the salary range provided below and is determined based on job-related factors, including, but not limited to, the experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions. Candidates with the minimum necessary experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skillsets for the position should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.



● The base pay for this position within California is: $117,000.00 - $195,000.00 annually.



For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health and welfare insurance, and 401(k) to eligible employees. More information on our benefits will be shared with candidates as they move forward in the recruitment process.

The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it will remain posted three days from the date the job is reposted and will remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.

The date of posting can be found on the Lanteris Space Systems Career page at the top of each job posting.

To apply, submit your application via the Lanteris Space Systems Career page.





Lanteris Space Systems values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity/affirmative action 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.