Manager, Off-Planet Science

The role

You will build and lead a team to define, produce, and transform lunar and Martian regolith simulants. You will own the regolith pipeline from specification and validation through ceramic process development for structural materials.

What you will do

• Lead, hire, and develop a team of planetary geoscientists, materials scientists, and laboratory technicians.
• Lead process development, characterization, and optimization for converting regolith simulants into structural ceramics.
• Partner with ICME teams to validate computational models against experimental data.
• Guide geotechnical input to robotic excavation, conveyance, and processing systems.
• Oversee testing of simulants and derived products under simulated lunar and Martian environmental conditions.
• Manage the department budget, laboratory resources, and capital equipment plans.
• Represent ICON's off-planet geoscience work to space agencies, research partners, and vendors.
• Establish laboratory procedures, data management practices, and safety standards.
• Own ICON's regolith simulant program and establish specifications.
• Direct the sourcing, procurement, and production of lunar and Martian regolith simulants.

Required qualifications

• Master's degree in Planetary Geology, Geoscience, Materials Science, Ceramic Engineering, Civil or Geotechnical Engineering, or a closely related field; a Bachelor's degree with equivalent additional
• 7+ years of related experience in planetary geoscience, materials characterization, simulant development, or ceramic processing, including 3+ years of people management.
• Demonstrated experience validating geologic or synthetic materials through mineralogical, chemical, and physical testing.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

Nice to have

• Ph.D. in a relevant field.
• Direct experience with lunar and/or Martian regolith simulants.
• Experience designing, operating, or running test campaigns in vacuum or thermal-vacuum chambers.
• Hands-on experience with ceramic processing methods such as conventional, microwave, or laser sintering, or melt casting.
• Experience collaborating with ICME or computational modeling teams.
• Familiarity with planetary and space analog testing environments.
• Experience leading work on NASA or other government-funded R&D programs.
• Knowledge of mechanical or robotic systems for excavation or conveyance.
• Background leading teams in low-volume, high-mix R&D environments.

About the company

ICON is seeking a Manager, Off-Planet Geoscience to build and lead the team that defines, produces, and transforms the lunar and Martian regolith simulants underpinning ICON's off-planet construction program.