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Technical Director, Off Planet Programs

Austin, Texas, United States

As the Director, Off-Planet Programs you will own and lead ICON’s off-planet robotics, construction, and materials initiatives across hardware, electrical, software, material science, R&D, and operations. This is a highly strategic and execution-driven leadership role, partnering closely with program management, executive leadership, and external stakeholders to scale ICON’s space robotics and extraterrestrial construction capabilities.


You will shape the long-term technical vision, infrastructure, and execution strategy for ICON’s off-planet programs—driving innovation, operational excellence, and sustained market leadership in autonomous construction beyond Earth.

 

This is a full-time position based on-site on ICON's Austin, TX HQ Campus.



RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Serve as the extreme owner of ICON’s off-planet systems and space robotics outputs across engineering, R&D, material science, and operations.

  • Lead and scale multidisciplinary teams spanning robotics, autonomous systems, material science, and construction technologies.

  • Partner closely with program management to execute complex, high-risk, multi-disciplinary initiatives.

  • Interface with executive leadership, internal stakeholders, customers, and government partners to align technical strategy with business objectives.

  • Build, operate, and continuously evolve a state-of-the-art research and operations facility supporting off-planet robotics and construction programs.

  • Establish and maintain strategic relationships with industry leaders, space agencies, vendors, and critical contractors.

  • Develop long-term R&D roadmaps and strategic plans, including resourcing, budgeting, and technical investment priorities.

  • Provide broad technical and strategic guidance to VP- and C-level leadership on off-planet business objectives, anticipating market, regulatory, and technological factors influencing medium- and long-term success.

  • Lead groups, divisions, and product teams with full accountability for delivery, performance, and outcomes.

  • Oversee and integrate all off-planet initiatives, developing new methods and approaches to solve company-wide technical and operational challenges in space robotics and autonomous construction.
     



MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • B.S. degree in Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Material Science, or a related field.

  • 15+ years of relevant industry experience, with demonstrated focus on off-planet systems, lunar environments, materials, and/or space robotic systems.

  • Proven experience developing multiple products that have achieved space flight or off-planet deployment.

  • Demonstrated success building and leading senior-level technical and engineering teams.

  • Strong systems engineering expertise with experience managing complex, multidisciplinary systems.

  • Excellent interpersonal, executive-level communication and stakeholder management skills.

  • Experience with autonomous and teleoperated robotic systems in remote or extreme environments.
     



PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • M.S. or advanced degree in Robotics, Systems Engineering, Material Science, or a related technical field.

  • Experience with spaceflight-rated software systems and software quality processes.

  • Experience with spaceflight-rated hardware, verification & validation (V&V), and mission-critical systems.

  • 10+ years of experience developing and shipping real-time embedded and electro-mechanical systems to end customers (ideally in the space industry).

  • Experience with networked and distributed systems.

  • Strong understanding of autonomy, robotics, and system-level architectural frameworks.

 

 
ICON is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an innovative, inclusive, diverse and discrimination-free work environment. Employment with ICON is based on merit, competence, and qualifications. It is our policy to administer all personnel actions, including recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting employees, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. Consistent with the obligations of these laws, ICON will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Furthermore, as a federal government contractor, the Company maintains an affirmative action program which furthers its commitment and complies with recordkeeping and reporting requirements under certain federal civil rights laws and regulations, including Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended) and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (as amended).

Headhunters and recruitment agencies may not submit candidates through this application. ICON does not accept unsolicited headhunter and agency submissions for candidates and will not pay fees to any third-party agency without a prior agreement with ICON.

As part of our compliance with these obligations, the Company invites you to voluntarily self-identify as set forth below. Provision of such information is entirely voluntary and a decision to provide or not provide such information will not have any effect on your employment or subject you to any adverse treatment. Any and all information provided will be considered confidential, will be kept separate from your application and/or personnel file, and will only be used in accordance with applicable laws, orders and regulations, including those that require the information to be summarized and reported to the federal government for civil rights enforcement purposes.

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