Principal Engineering Manager, Off-Planet Robotic Systems

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 feasibility, and technical risk to customers and partners.

• Attend industry conferences, customer events, and technical reviews representing ICON's off-planet engineering capability.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent technical degree with demonstrated aerospace mechanical design experience)

• 12+ years of recent, hands-on experience designing aerospace or equivalent mechanical system elements within aircraft, spacecraft, or launch vehicles

• Strong mechanical design and integration skills using 3D modeling tools; ability to drive design from concept through production

• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams, earn trust, maintain positive relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

• Deep thermal analysis skills and experience in extreme thermal environments

• Extensive design experience with serial robotic manipulators and robotic system constraints

• Formal systems engineering experience: requirements development, implementation verification, system integration, qualification, and release

• Aerospace actuation design and specification (servo-driven, hydraulic, or pneumatic systems)

• Spacecraft systems design and flight heritage

• Proficiency in Solidworks or equivalent CAD platforms

• Advanced FEA and CFD analysis using ANSYS, Abaqus, or equivalent tools

• Leadership experience: managing engineers across multiple disciplines, mentoring, and building high-performing technical teams