intuitive-machines

Intuitive Machines Software Engineer Case Interview: Lunar Telemetry and Fault Management

This scenario-based case mirrors Intuitive Machines’ fast, panel-style technical interviews that emphasize practical problem solving over puzzle-heavy coding. Expect a brief recruiter/HR screen followed by a conversational yet probing session with the hiring manager and senior engineers focused on your projects, tool choices, and how you would tackle real mission problems. ([glassdoor.com](https://www.glassdoor.com/Interview/Intuitive-Machines-Interview-Questions-E2097916.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [indeed.com](https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Intuitive-Machines/interviews?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) Case prompt: You are designing a minimal, reliable telemetry ingestion and fault management service for a lunar lander mission operations console. The comm link is intermittent with high latency and constrained bandwidth; safety-critical messages must preempt lower-priority traffic, persist durably, and surface actionable alerts quickly when connectivity resumes. Propose the architecture, data model, prioritization scheme, back-pressure strategy, and observability. Discuss failure modes (dropouts, replays, out-of-order packets, clock skew), integrity/authenticity, and how you’d test with hardware- and software-in-the-loop plus fault injection. In-session flow (guideline): 1) Requirements clarification and tradeoffs (5–10 min). 2) System/API design sketch with component boundaries (20 min). 3) Targeted coding task (15 min) – e.g., write a function to parse and prioritize incoming packets, deduplicate, and emit alert events; you may choose Python/C++/Go. 4) Validation plan and rollout (10 min). 5) Behavioral reflection (5 min) on past failures, how you learned a new skill quickly, and collaborating with hardware teams. These prompts reflect common IM interview themes like scenario questions and resume deep-dives. ([glassdoor.com](https://www.glassdoor.com/Interview/Intuitive-Machines-Interview-Questions-E2097916.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) What interviewers look for (culture fit): bias to action in a rapidly moving, small-team environment; clarity under ambiguity; safety- and mission-first judgment; excitement about space; and willingness to pitch in during milestone crunches when needed. ([indeed.com](https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Intuitive-Machines/interviews?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [glassdoor.com](https://www.glassdoor.com/Interview/Intuitive-Machines-Interview-Questions-E2097916.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) Difficulty and cadence: Candidates often report an overall easy-to-average difficulty and a quick timeline (about a week) from first contact to decision, though pace can vary by team. ([indeed.com](https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Intuitive-Machines/interviews?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

engineering

2 minutes

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About This Interview

Interview Type

PRODUCT SENSE

Difficulty Level

3/5

Interview Tips

• Research the company thoroughly

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• Prepare your STAR method responses

• Dress appropriately for the role