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.
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:Benefits include: 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.
