Space Hardware Engineer – Vacuum Systems & Mechanisms

Interlune

Houston (TX)

On-site

USD 110,000 - 195,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off

Company holidays

Job summary

Interlune is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to join our engineering team at the Interlune Research Lab in Houston, TX. You will design, develop, and implement hardware enabling space resource utilization, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.

You'll drive vacuum and thermo-mechanical components, perform analyses, lead design reviews, and ensure manufacturability from lab prototypes to production-ready hardware. Experience in high vacuum systems and hands-on testing is valued.

Qualifications

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical subject area.
3+ years of experience in the design of electro-mechanical systems using a CAD software design package (e.g. Solidworks, NX, CATIA, or Creo) and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
Direct experience designing and troubleshooting hardware for high vacuum systems.
Recent, practical hands-on experience with hardware assembly, integration, and testing.
Familiarity with common manufacturing methods (machining, welding, hand and power tools, etc.).
Ability to operate effectively with minimal direction, maintaining a high attention to detail and aspiration for technical excellence, and have a demonstrated track record of resourcefulness and success from previous work.

Responsibilities

Drive the detailed mechanical design of vacuum system components and assemblies, including pumps, valves, tubing, and heat exchangers, through all lifecycle phases and demonstrate extreme ownership.
Apply fluids and mechanical engineering principles to the development of hardware operating in demanding environments, including high-pressure, high-vacuum, or thermally extreme conditions.
Conduct engineering analysis to size and validate system and component performance, using a combination of hand calculations, simulation tools, and first-principles reasoning.
Integrate mechanical systems with electrical, sensing, and control components to deliver complete, functional hardware working to bridge the gap between design intent and working product.
Lead and participate in design reviews at the component, subsystem, and system level, communicating technical decisions clearly to a multidisciplinary team.
Oversee procurement, assembly, integration, and operation of mechanical and vacuum systems hardware, maintaining hands-on involvement from parts receipt through fully integrated system operation.
Develop and execute test plans to verify and validate hardware performance, from bench-level component tests through full system qualification.
Collaborate closely with adjacent engineering teams to ensure hardware interfaces are well-defined, requirements are met, and the integrated system performs as intended.
Scale designs from laboratory prototypes to production-representative hardware, applying sound engineering judgment to make designs robust, repeatable, and manufacturable.