Job Description
ICON is seeking a Principal Engineering Manager, Off-Planet Robotic Systems to lead the robotics function for our advanced off-planet construction and site preparation platform. Reporting to the Director, Off-Planet Systems, you will own the strategic direction, technical execution, and continuous improvement of all robotic system design across laboratory, ground support equipment, and flight-critical hardware domains. This role combines full functional authority over robotic systems engineering strategy with hands-on technical leadership and accountability for mission success.
Role Scope & Authority
As Director, you will:
Own the robotics system function for the off-planet program, setting technical standards, design philosophy, and integration strategy across all disciplines.
Direct and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team spanning mechanical, robotics, and embedded software engineering along with thermal and structural analysis and design—building capability, mentoring career progression, and establishing performance expectations aligned with company OKRs.
Make final design decisions on all robotic systems—laboratory prototypes, ground support equipment, and flight-qualified hardware—exercising independent judgment on trade-offs between performance, schedule, cost, and risk.
Participate in mission-level strategy by providing mechanical engineering perspective on Concept of Operations development, site preparation architecture, and long-term platform roadmap. Your insights directly inform business development and go/no-go decisions.
Represent ICON at industry events, customer reviews, and stakeholder engagements as the authoritative voice on mechanical engineering capability and direction.
Key Responsibilities
Functional Leadership & Strategy
Establish robotic system standards, design processes, and quality practices for the program.
Define the team structure, capability gaps, and hiring strategy needed to support mission objectives.
Mentor engineers in technical depth and career development; establish individual goals aligned with company strategy.
Evaluate and recommend process improvements, tools adoption, and organizational changes to senior leadership.
Design & Technical Execution
Own robotic system designs across Laboratory, GSE, and Flight hardware—leading conceptual and detailed design efforts, conducting trade studies and ideation exercises with cross-functional teams, and ensuring design integrity, manufacturability, and compliance with aerospace standards.
Specify robotic servo-driven actuators and large-format actuators with attention to reliability, thermal performance, and operational constraints (mobile rovers, long-reach manipulators).
Execute and oversee FEA and CFD analyses to validate safe, reliable engineered solutions for space environments. Set acceptance criteria and interpret results independently.
Lead project planning efforts including design strategy sessions, work breakdown structures, and cost/schedule alignment; identify and manage programmatic risks and drive mitigation efforts.
Support systems engineering in requirements capture and definition, system architecture, and product concept of operations for robotic systems.
Build, Test & Integration
Design and direct prototyping activities using in-house and external fabrication; ensure prototype validation feeds back into flight design.
Provide hands-on troubleshooting, build support, and integration leadership in a rapid, AGILE development cycle.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to procure, fabricate, test, and ultimately fly the hardware you have designed.
Lead design review and systems engineering processes; participate in requirement flowdown and verification/validation planning.
External Engagement & Business Support
Interface with mission planning and operations teams to refine Conops and support requirement development.
Support business development by articulating robotic systems capability, timeline…