---
title: 'Managing, Sustaining Engineering at ICON'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/managing-sustaining-engineering-icon-austin-n29dbvx0rx7k'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-26'
---

# Managing, Sustaining Engineering at ICON

- **Company:** ICON
- **Location:** Austin, TX
- **Posted:** 2026-10-22
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-26
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/iconcareers/jobs/6232326004

## Job description

ICON builds robotic systems that construct multi-story buildings. ICON launched Titan commercially in March 2026, has raised more than $550M, and holds more than $360M in government contracts across the Army, Air Force, DARPA, and NASA. As the fleet of field-deployed printers and the manufacturing operation behind them grow, so does the volume of field issues, work instructions, and reliability data that Sustaining Engineering is responsible for.

The Manager, Sustaining Engineering leads the engineering team that maintains and improves ICON's field-deployed systems and manufacturing processes. You own the resolution of field issues, the work instructions that keep crews and manufacturing running, and the systems that track equipment performance. New product development stays with the design engineering teams; Sustaining owns everything after release.

You will work daily with program management, manufacturing, field operations, and design engineering, and you are accountable for your team's priorities, schedules, procedures, and budget execution. This role is based at ICON's Austin, TX office and reports to the VP of Product and Engineering.

## Responsibilities

## Team Leadership

- Manage a team of ~6 sustaining engineers, setting priorities, assigning work, and reviewing output against objectives set with the VP of Vulcan Engineering.
- Coach engineers through moderately complex field issues and provide technical direction on root cause analysis, corrective actions, and design changes.
- Plan headcount, hiring, and skill development for the team and determine the resources needed to meet schedules and goals.

Field Issue Resolution and Reliability

- Own the intake, triage, and closure of field issues on deployed systems, including escalation paths to design engineering when a change to the released product is required.
- Build and maintain the systems used to track and analyze field equipment performance, and use that data to prioritize reliability improvements.
- Lead test planning and validation for product enhancements and sustaining changes before release to the field and manufacturing.

Work Instructions and Process

- Partner with program management and manufacturing to create and revise work instructions for new and existing products, ensuring they are accurate, current, and usable by the people performing the work.
- Establish and document the procedures the Sustaining team follows for change control, issue tracking, and release of updates, and recommend changes to engineering policies where current practice falls short.
- Identify and implement automation opportunities in field and internal engineering workflows, from tooling and data capture to repetitive manual processes.

Planning and Budget

- Execute the Sustaining Engineering budget, tracking spend against plan and flagging variances to the VP.
- Contribute to Vulcan Engineering planning cycles with input on team capacity, reliability priorities, and resource needs.

## Minimum Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of engineering experience with hardware systems in production or field use, including prior supervisory or people management experience.
- Experience leading engineers through root cause analysis and corrective action on fielded or manufactured products.
- Demonstrated ability to define and run team procedures, work plans, and schedules within an established engineering organization.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
- Clear verbal and written communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities.

## Preferred Skills and Experience

- Experience with robotics, automation, or other complex electromechanical systems.
- Start-up or small-company experience where the process had to be built rather than inherited.
- Familiarity with Jira or similar issue-tracking tools and with administering cloud-based collaboration tools.
- Knowledge of basic networking principles.

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.

[Internet Applicant Employment Notices](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KtxCrS8fV9XRApKaXFjKJ5twhzR_MkGE)

## About ICON

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: ICON develops advanced 3D printing robotics, software, and materials to transform construction, tackling the global housing crisis and preparing to build on other worlds.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Venture-backed; last known round: Series B in February 2022)
- **Headquarters**: Austin, Texas, United States
- **Founded**: 2017
- **Founders**: Evan Loomis (Co-Founder) and others; the founding team is not fully detailed in public sources.

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Construction Technology (PropTech), Robotics, Advanced Materials, Aerospace (Off-Planet R&D)
- **Target customers**: B2B (homebuilders, developers, military/defense), B2G (government/MILCON projects), and B2C (homebuyers via partner builders)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To advance humanity by using 3D printing robotics, software, and advanced materials to lower the cost and increase the speed and quality of construction, tackling the global housing crisis and preparing to build on other worlds.

## Products & Services
- **Vulcan Construction System**: A large-scale 3D printing robotic system that prints single-story and multi-story concrete homes and structures. Type: Hardware + Software.
- **Phoenix Multi-Story Printer**: A newer, radical robotic printer unveiled to enable multi-story construction. Type: Hardware + Software.
- **Proprietary Advanced Materials (e.g., Lavacrete)**: A low-carbon, high-strength concrete mix designed specifically for 3D printing. Type: Material.
- **Digital Catalog for Residential Architecture**: A catalog of pre-designed, printable home models. Type: Software/Service.
- **AI Architect for Home Design**: An AI-powered tool for home design and construction planning. Type: Software.
- **Off-Planet R&D**: Research and development of construction systems for use on the Moon and Mars, including work under NASA contracts. Type: R&D Service.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (Private company).
- **Key Metric**: $564.7M in total funding across 8 rounds. Annual revenue estimated at $18.0M (source: LinkedIn).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Tiger Global Management (led Series B), Moderne Ventures (led Series A), Oakhouse Partners (led Seed). Partners include NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and various homebuilding firms.
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount of 228 employees (+10.8% YoY); 42 active job postings (+223.1% YoY); expansion into military construction (MILCON); ongoing development of the Phoenix multi-story printer and Off-Planet systems.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Pioneer & First-Mover**: One of the first companies to successfully deploy large-scale 3D printing for livable homes, creating a strong brand and operational track record.
- **Vertically Integrated Technology Stack**: Proprietary robotics, software, and materials are all developed in-house, creating a defensible moat and optimized system performance.
- **High-Profile Government & Space Contracts**: Partnerships with NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense provide credibility, non-dilutive funding, and a unique market position.
- **Mission-Driven Brand**: The dual mission of solving the housing crisis and building on other worlds attracts top talent and media attention.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scaling Military & Government Projects (MILCON)**: A major focus is on winning and delivering large-scale construction projects for the U.S. military.
- **Multi-Story Construction**: The Phoenix printer represents a key strategic pivot to enable taller, denser buildings, opening up new market segments.
- **Commercialization & Replicability**: Moving from R&D and pilot projects to a repeatable, scalable business model that can be deployed globally.
- **Off-Planet Systems**: Continued R&D for lunar and Martian construction, maintaining a long-term vision that differentiates the company.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission & Impact**: The opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology that directly addresses the global housing crisis and has a tangible, physical impact. The "Earth and beyond" mission is a powerful motivator.
- **Hands-On, Cross-Disciplinary Learning**: Employees gain deep, practical experience across robotics, materials science, software, and field operations. Learning is accelerated.
- **Comprehensive Benefits**: Includes medical/dental/vision, mental health coverage, "Use What You Need" PTO, generous parental leave, 401K with Roth IRA, and employee stock options.
- **Culture**: Described as fast-paced, intense, and driven by a sense of urgency and ownership. Attracts builders, engineers, and operators who want to reinvent an industry.
- **Work Policy**: Roles are primarily based in Austin, TX (HQ), with some field positions in Miami, FL. The environment is largely on-site, especially for engineering, operations, and print roles.
- **Considerations**: The culture is also noted for high volatility, including a 25% workforce reduction in January 2025. Workload can be intense with long hours, and leadership is described as uneven by some sources. Candidates seeking stability and process maturity may find the environment challenging. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/icon-build/faq/workplace-perception)

## Sources
1. [iconbuild.com](https://www.iconbuild.com/)
2. [iconbuild.com/careers](https://www.iconbuild.com/careers)
3. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/iconcareers](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/iconcareers)
4. [linkedin.com/company/icon3dtech](https://www.linkedin.com/company/icon3dtech)
5. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/icon-build/faq/workplace-perception)

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