Head of Engineering

**Head of Engineering**

Based in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
- OffWorld is a robotics startup working on developing a mobile robotic workforce for heavy industrial jobs on Earth, Moon, asteroids & Mars. OffWorld was founded by an experienced engineering team drawing on decades of tackling formidable engineering challenges at NASA, ESA, NOAA, Maxar Technologies, CERN, Reaction Engines, SAFRAN, Surrey Satellites and Cisco. OffWorld’s first challenge is developing and maturing a modular robotic system for extreme environments on Earth. Our robots will go deeper underground and farthest on Earth than humans can, eliminate the need for humans to work in life-threatening environments in mining, construction, tunneling and other dangerous industries, and dramatically reduce the environmental footprint and cost of operations in key economies on Earth and beyond._
- OffWorld Europe SARL, based in Luxembourg, is an affiliate of OffWorld, Inc. (OffWorld US), with its headquarters in Altadena, California. Combined with its South Africa & Australiia operations, OffWorld currently has over 85 team members and over 6,000 sqm of engineering facilities. OffWorld Europe will focus on developing and deploying modules for extraction and storage of resources on the Moon._

As the Head of Engineering, you will lead the Engineering Team in developing a lunar volatile extraction and processing module to demonstrate the in-situ production of hydrogen and oxygen from lunar polar ices. You will ideally be an engineer with experience in leading teams who have developed and deployed space assets. Working with the R&D team, you will design and develop a lunar processing module which will be launched to the Moon. Knowledge of the lunar environment and experience in developing ISRU experiments is required. Experience in water electrolysis is a plus

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

- Provide strategic direction and leadership for the engineering team focused on lunar ice processing units, aligning with the company's mission and objectives.
- Develop and implement engineering strategies, goals, and initiatives to drive innovation, efficiency, and technical excellence.
- Foster a collaborative and inclusive culture within the engineering team, promoting knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
- Build and lead a high-performing engineering team, including hiring, mentoring, and performance management.
- Define clear roles, responsibilities, and KPI’s, promoting a culture of accountability and continuous learning.
- Encourage the professional development and growth of team members.
- Lead the engineering efforts to design and develop an engineering model for lunar ice processing units.
- Lead the manufacturing efforts internally and externally and ensure production quality.
- Conduct laboratory-scale experiments to contribute to evaluation and down-selecting of specific designs of the processing module. Raise TRL levels each year.
- Establish a clear roadmap for qualification and flight in hardware development, ensuring that the engineering model progresses towards meeting the necessary standards and requirements for spaceflight.
- Utilize your in-depth knowledge of lunar environments and experience in developing in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) experiments to inform the design and development of the lunar ice processing unit.
- Stay abreast of the latest advancements and best practices in ISRU technologies and related engineering fields.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize engineering processes and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the lunar ice processing unit.
- Collaborate closely with stakeholders across the organization, including scientists, researchers, and project managers, to align engineering efforts with project objectives.
- Communicate technical concepts and progress effectively to executive management and other key stakeholders.
- Foster strong relationships with external partners, research institutions, and industry professionals to leverage expertise and drive collaborative opportunities.

To hit the ground running, you need:

- Master's or Ph.D. degree in Engineering or a related field, with a specialization in systems, chemical processing, mechanical engineering, or similar.
- 10+ years of experience in developing and executing space-based/ISRU projects, with a focus on lunar resource utilization and/or planetary exploration.
- Proven track record of leading and managing multidisciplinary engineering teams, delivering complex projects on schedule and within budget.
- Strong technical expertise in lunar ice processing, including knowledge of extraction, separation, and electrolysis technologies.
- Experience with designing and conducting laboratory-scale experiments in the context of lunar resource utilization.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
- Ability to adapt to a dynamic and fast-paced work environment.

In a nutshell, we offer th