Avionics FlatSAT Lead / Technical Lead

**Avionics FlatSAT Lead / Technical Lead** Houston, Texas, United States **Company Overview:** 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. **Position Overview:** We are seeking a Flatsat Lead to architect, build, and manage our Flatsat infrastructure for the Intuitive Machines Altus Lunar Satellite program. The role will serve as the technical authority for a system that mirrors the spacecraft and enables development, integration, and testing across flight hardware, software, ground systems, and mission operations. The Flatsat will serve as a versatile hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) testbed supporting flight software and firmware development, debugging, system capability enhancements, and real‑time validation of complex subsystem interactions. This role is responsible for defining the architecture, driving integration strategy, and ensuring the Flatsat evolves into a high‑fidelity mission representation that supports rapid development, risk reduction, and mission success. You will collaborate closely with spacecraft, payload, comm, GNSS, PNT, and ground teams to expand Flatsat capability, plan and execute integration campaigns, and ensure the testbed reliably represents mission configuration throughout program evolution. Your work will have a direct impact on program success, supporting spacecraft builds, payload integration, mission rehearsals, and full end‑to‑end system tests. This is a hands‑on, high‑ownership role at the center of spacecraft and payload integration. Reports to Avionics Director. **RESPONSIBILITIES** - Define the architecture, configuration, and long‑term roadmap of the Flatsat environment - Develop system‑level integration plans covering avionics, payloads, software, RF systems, and ground interfaces - Ensure the Flatsat accurately represents spacecraft mission configuration and operational scenarios - Establish and maintain infrastructure for full mission simulations, hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HWIL) testing, and end‑to‑end validation - Define and manage development of lab environment software and firmware to interface and be compatible with the Flight software / firmware - Design or oversee the development of custom Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and test interfaces - Lead mechanical, electrical, RF, and network integration of Flatsat hardware - Define power, communication, data‑handling, and environmental support architectures - Ensure maintainability, scalability, configuration control, and reliability of the system - Plan and execute integration and test campaigns, including regression testing and anomaly reproduction - Coordinate across software, hardware, payload, comm, systems engineering, and ground teams - Develop test plans and test procedures for payload and spacecraft system testing - Support mission rehearsals, environmental test preparations, and readiness reviews - Track risks, integration issues, and system limitations; drive mitigation strategies - Manage configuration changes as flight hardware and payloads evolve over the program lifecycle - Ensure safe operations, access control, and hardware handling discipline - Maintain accurate documentation of design changes, procedures, test results. **BASIC QUALIFICATIONS** - Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field - 5+ years relevant experience (3+ with MS) - Hands‑on experience with spacecraft subsystems, avionics, or h…