Development engineer Jobs in Houston, TX

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 engineering team combines expert knowledge of geological sciences, mechanical 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 a Mechanical Engineer, this role will join Interlune's engineering team and be responsible for the physical design, development, and implementation of the critical hardware that will make space resource utilization possible. This position would be full time at the Interlune Research Lab (IRL) in Houston, TX.

Applicants from all industries are welcome, with particular emphasis in complex, multi-disciplinary system development. Familiarity with and prior experience in the space, oil and gas, construction, or mining industry are valuable but not required.

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.

Required 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.

Desired Qualifications:

• M.S. or Ph.D.in Mechanical Engineering, or related technical subject area.
• Direct experience designing or operating ultra-high vacuum chambers.
• Proficiency with FEA software (e.g., ANSYS Mechanical, NASTRAN, Abaqus) and fluid analysis tools.
• Experience programming or configuring control systems (LabVIEW, Python) for vacuum automation.
• Functional knowledge of electrical systems, data acquisition (DAQ), sensor integration, and wiring schematics to ensure cohesive electro-mechanical design.

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. Interlune is an 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.

Don't meet every requirement? If you're excited about this role but you don't meet all of the job requirements, we encourage you to apply and explain why the experiences you do have are a suitable substitute. We'd hate to miss out on the perfect candidate for this or other roles.

Compensation range for employees is:

Target Levels:

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

Level 3 Range: $125,000 - $195,000

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.