Robotic AI Engineer

Spaceium; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity 0.1%–0.5%

Job summary

Spaceium in Ottawa is seeking a Robotic AI Engineer to develop autonomy for spacecraft, integrating perception, reasoning, and on-board decision-making.

You'll design AI/ML models, perception pipelines, and edge deployment, collaborating with software, systems, GNC, and operations engineers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, AI/ML, or related field.
• Strong Python programming skills.
• Experience with ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) and Git.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop AI/ML models for spacecraft autonomy, perception, anomaly detection, and predictive maintenance.
• Develop perception pipelines (computer vision, sensor fusion) for pose estimation, object/target detection, and scene understanding.
• Build reinforcement learning, planning, and decision-making algorithms for autonomous on-orbit operations and robotic manipulation.
• Build data pipelines for training, evaluation, and deployment of models.
• Create simulation environments (including physics/robotics simulators) for training and validating AI and robotic behaviors.
• Deploy and optimize models on edge / resource-constrained flight hardware.
• Integrate AI and robotics systems with flight software and ground segment tools.
• Collaborate with software, systems, GNC, and operations engineers on AI-driven features.
• Research and prototype novel approaches to space-specific robotics and AI challenges.

Skills

Python

ML frameworks

Git

ROS

Reinforcement learning

Edge deployment

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ROS

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

At Spaceium, we are building spacecraft systems designed to push the boundaries of what's possible in orbit. As a Robotic AI Engineer, you will develop the intelligence that lets our spacecraft perceive, reason, and act autonomously — from perception and manipulation to onboard decision-making. You will work at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and space systems, building AI that operates reliably in resource-constrained, high-stakes environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop AI/ML models for spacecraft autonomy, perception, anomaly detection, and predictive maintenance
• Develop perception pipelines (computer vision, sensor fusion) for pose estimation, object/target detection, and scene understanding
• Build reinforcement learning, planning, and decision-making algorithms for autonomous on-orbit operations and robotic manipulation
• Build data pipelines for training, evaluation, and deployment of models
• Create simulation environments (including physics/robotics simulators) for training and validating AI and robotic behaviors
• Deploy and optimize models on edge / resource-constrained flight hardware
• Integrate AI and robotics systems with flight software and ground segment tools
• Collaborate with software, systems, GNC, and operations engineers on AI-driven features
• Research and prototype novel approaches to space-specific robotics and AI challenges

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, AI/ML, Mathematics, or a related field
• Strong programming skills in Python
• Experience with machine learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar)
• Understanding of statistics and mathematical foundations of ML
• Experience with version control systems such as Git

What We're Looking For

We're building technology that hasn't been done before. Experience is helpful, but curiosity, drive, and the ability to learn quickly matter more. If you're excited about spacecraft, enjoy solving hard engineering problems, and want to help build something new, we encourage you to apply — whether you're early in your career or more experienced.

Preferred Skills

• Creative problem solver with strong first-principles thinking, capable of assessing risk and making decisions with limited data.
• Experience in a nimble, technical engineering role, with a scrappy, entrepreneurial approach to meeting tight time or budget constraints.
• Experience with robotics frameworks (e.g., ROS), motion planning, or manipulation
• Experience deploying ML models on edge devices or resource-constrained platforms
• Familiarity with reinforcement learning, planning, or decision systems
• Knowledge of computer vision or sensor fusion techniques
• Experience with MLOps, model monitoring, and continuous training pipelines
• Understanding of spacecraft operations or autonomous systems
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, collaborative team player, and detail-oriented with a focus on quality.

Additional Requirements

• Extended hours and weekend work may be required to support critical project and mission milestones.
• This role requires a physical presence at the Ottawa facility.

Compensation

• Salary: $75,000 – $110,000 CAD per year
• Equity: 0.1% – 0.5%