Instrument Engineer

Fusion Energy Base; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Paid Time Off

Company Holidays

Job summary

Interlune seeks an Instrument Engineer to develop instruments for space and planetary research. You will help design, prototype, test, and integrate sensors and payload equipment capable of operating in extreme environments, including lunar surfaces.

The role supports a growing engineering team across Seattle, WA, and Houston, TX facilities. Applicants from all industries are welcome; experience in aerospace, oil/gas, construction, or mining is valuable but not required.

Qualifications

• BS or equivalent in Planetary Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related technical discipline.
• Relevant experience in scientific instrumentation, including university projects, capstone designs, and internships.
• Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for data collection and analysis.
• Collaborative, cross-disciplinary mindset balancing science objectives against engineering constraints.
• Strong first principles knowledge of physics and engineering fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to design, prototype, and test instruments for space applications.
• Hands-on assembly, calibration, and testing of instrumentation hardware in lab environments.
• Support science team in determining measurement objectives and mission planning.
• Develop software for data acquisition and sensor interfacing (e.g., Python, MATLAB).
• Troubleshoot, perform failure analysis, and verify prototype instruments and sub-assemblies.
• Document designs, test plans, and results; participate in design reviews.
• Communicate clearly with peers, leadership, and external stakeholders.

Skills

Python programming

MATLAB scripting

Cross-disciplinary teamwork

Strong physics fundamentals

Education

B.S. or equivalent in Planetary Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics

M.S. in Planetary Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Interlune is a space infrastructure and natural resources company based in Seattle, WA. We are building the industrial backbone of the space economy. We are looking for a Doer who wants to join our early-stage team and accelerate humanity’s progress toward an off-world future. Our technical team combines expert knowledge of planetary sciences, electrical engineering, automation, systems engineering, modeling and simulation, and advanced fabrication to build the infrastructure that will create an in-space economy.

To join our small team, you must be agile, willing to learn, and able to take on multiple roles as needed.

As an Instrument Engineer, you will join Interlune’s engineering team to work alongside other engineers and scientists to develop advanced instruments for space. You will contribute to the design, prototyping, testing, and integration of sensors and payload instrumentation designed to operate reliably in a space environment, including the lunar surface. This position would be full-time at our headquarters in Seattle, WA or our Interlune Research Lab in Houston, TX. Applicants from all industries are welcome, with particular emphasis in complex, multi-disciplinary system development. Experience in the aerospace, oil and gas, construction, or mining industry are valuable but not required.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering and science teams to design, prototype, and test scientific and operational instruments for space applications.
• Participate in hands-on assembly, calibration, and testing of instrumentation hardware in laboratory environments.
• Support Interlune’s science team in determining achievable measurement objectives and mission planning.
• Develop software (e.g., using Python, MATLAB, etc) for data acquisition, sensor interfacing, and automated test routines.
• Support troubleshooting, failure analysis, and design verification of prototype instruments and sub-assemblies.
• Document technical designs, test plans, and results, actively participating in team design reviews.
• Demonstrate strong, proactive written and verbal communication with all levels of the organization, including peers, leadership, and external stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. or equivalent in Planetary Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• Relevant experience in scientific instrumentation, including university projects, capstone designs, and/or internships.
• Proficiency in programming or scripting languages (e.g., Python or MATLAB) for data collection and analysis.
• Collaborative, cross-disciplinary mindset with the ability to balance science objectives against engineering constraints.
• Strong first principles knowledge of physics and engineering fundamentals.

Desired Qualifications

• M.S. in Planetary Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience in scientific instrument development, test, and/or integration, preferably for use in an extreme environment.
• Exposure to high-vacuum testing and/or thermal environmental chambers.
• Familiarity with optical systems and camera calibration tools.
• Experience building and validating physics-based models.
• Expertise in handling and preparation of geologic samples.
• Systems engineering experience including architecture definition, requirements derivation, and/or test planning and execution.
• Detailed experience in any engineering discipline, including but not limited to PCB design, embedded systems, structural analysis, thermal analysis, and/or design and fabrication of machined parts.

Export Control Regulations

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants for employment at Interlune must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Interlune is seeking to hire highly motivated and forward-thinking professionals who are interested in focusing on creating our off-world future.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Compensation range for employees is:

Target Levels: Level 1 Range: $90,000 - $120,000

Level 2 Range: $110,000 - $150,000

We will consider candidates with a wide variety of experience levels for this position. Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, short and long-term disability, and other benefits
• Paid Time Off: Flexible PTO policy with paid company holidays.