Payload Design Engineer

At Interstellar Lab our mission is to build a future full of life, on Earth and beyond. We believe in a future where technology is enabling humans to live in harmony with nature, a future where biodiversity thrives and expands, a future where terrestrial life becomes multi-planetary.

To build this future, we design, manufacture and operate controlled-environment biofarms that unleash the power of plants.

Our solutions combine Hardware, AI and Bioscience. We use controlled-environment technology to mimic a multitude of conditions to allow plants, fungi and microorganisms to grow faster and better.

Our customers are large beauty, perfume, natural ingredients, food & beverage and nutraceuticals companies. To advance space exploration, we work with space agencies and private companies and provide them bio-farming units to grow food efficiently for astronauts and / or conduct research on the impact of microgravity on plant molecular composition.

All potential candidates should read through the following details of this job with care before making an application.

YOUR ROLE

As a Payload Design Engineer, you will have the unique opportunity to lead various vehicle space exploration payload design and work with a cross-functional team of engineers from conception, analysis, and manufacturing, through to operational test and deployment.

You will be involved in the development of our plant growth systems in LEO, and work on lunar payloads such as Mission Little Prince.

The Payload Design Engineer will lead product development and design, implementation, and maintenance for all mechanical systems supporting the production and operations of Interstellar Lab space systems.

Your creativity and relentless commitment to quality will be expected to analyze, create and maintain payload systems designs, define and improve processes, and develop product validation techniques in order to ultimately build a state-of-the-art and fully mechanical system capable of safely and reliably meeting required performances and allowing for user operations.

You will also put your engineering knowledge to the test by performing real-time troubleshooting on the products as they go from the integration phase through operations.

Our fundamental goal is to allow life to grow anywhere; with it comes extreme responsibility to ensure the safety of plant materials and users in charge of growing them.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support internal engineering development on space exploration payloads and facilities (ISS, Orbital Stations and Lunar program).
• Provide Technical Leadership.
• Ensure the Interstellar Lab design process and space flight certification / validation approach are followed.
• Work with and integrate various engineering development leads to guide the development process.
• Conduct design reviews to monitor technical correctness, design project health, and progress.
• Provide critical peer review and approval of hardware designs during design reviews, and of acceptance and qualification test campaigns.
• Manage the technical aspects of electrical design, mechanical design, software / firmware development, thermal analysis, materials analysis, structural analysis, and other monitorial aspects related to space payload system design.
• Perform engineering design evaluations.
• Produce other required design documentation.

PROFILE

• Requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in engineering and possess 10 years of related experience.
• Must have knowledge and experience in developing / designing, testing and certifying payloads for space exploration.
• Must have familiarity with 3D modeling CAD software.
• Must have working experience leading and integrating mid-size (10 or more engineers) of various engineering disciplines.
• Must have technical leadership and design team integration experience managing technical schedules, earned value and other monitorial aspects related to mechanical design and drafting on projects.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team of mechanical, electrical, and software engineers designing and building world-class, NASA space-flight hardware.
• Experience with aircraft, launch vehicles, spacecraft, or other aerospace systems.
• Hands-on experience with various industry standard manufacturing tools.
• Experience with material selection and make vs. buy decisions for system components.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Experience with ISS interfaces or payloads development and engineering.
• Experience with Lunar Payloads or Rovers development and engineering.
• Development of Space Flight Hardware or ground analogs.
• Fluent in French, Italian, German, or another language.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Environment

• In Office : 65%
• In a launch site laboratory / integration facility / etc. : 25%
• Outside : 10%

Time Expectations

• Will need to be available to work weekends, nights, and on call as a regular part of the job.
• These requirements will be made in advance as best as possible so you can plan.

Physical requirements

• Mostly sedentary.
• May require long hours standing in a lab facility.
• Must be able to lift up to 20lbs overhead.

This role will be travel extensive and you are expected to be available 50% of the time.

• Conferences.
• Launch Site Integration Activities.
• Laboratory Visits.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations : job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at Interstellar Lab. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards.

You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks.

Interstellar Lab is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Interstellar Lab does not discriminate on the basis of race, regional color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

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