Space Communications Engineer

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. Our mission is to further science and exploration, communications, and economic progress from the Earth to the Moon and beyond. With multiple NASA lunar missions in development 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 aspects of spacecraft subsystems design, development, and test, on-orbit operations, and safety.

Responsibilities:

• Design communication systems to support satellite systems in lunar orbit, deep-space, satellite, and other mission applications.
• Define communication subsystem requirements and allocate requirements across spacecraft, payload, and ground system interfaces.
• Develop RF communication subsystem architectures, interfaces, and test activities including antennas, transceivers, SDRs, LNAs, SSPAs, filters, multiplexers, and related hardware.
• Develop and analyze communication link budgets to ensure mission performance requirements are met.
• Define and implement communication waveforms, modulation schemes, coding/FEC techniques, and synchronization methods.
• Perform RF system modeling, simulation, integration, testing, and troubleshooting activities.
• Conduct communication performance analyses including Eb/No, carrier-to-noise ratio, throughput, coverage, access, and link margin assessments.
• Ensure communication subsystem designs comply with applicable constraints, standards, and requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including systems, software, avionics, GNC, payload, and ground systems engineers, to ensure successful communication system integration.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in communications or related fields.
• Experience developing communication subsystem requirements and interface definitions.
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience with lunar, deep-space, or satellite communication systems.
• Experience with Software Defined Radios (SDRs), optical, and/or RF communications systems
• Experience with communication analysis tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, or equivalent.
• Experience with test equipment including spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, signal generators, and oscilloscopes.
• Familiarity with government standards, CCSDS protocols, and spectrum management activities.

• Experience supporting communication subsystem integration, verification, environmental testing, and mission operations.
  

US EEO Statement:

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.