Space Robotics & Autonomy Engineer

Lunar Outpost; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

PTO 3 weeks

401(k) match

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Job summary

Lunar Outpost is seeking a Space Robotics & Autonomy Engineer to develop planning, navigation, and decision-making capabilities for lunar vehicles and spacecraft. You will design autonomy software for rovers and orbital assets and collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to advance space autonomy.

This role focuses on developing advanced autonomy software, motion planning, and coordination algorithms, with responsibilities spanning simulation, field tests, and documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in CS, robotics, or related field.
• 3+ years of autonomy software development for autonomous systems.
• Experience with motion planning, multi-agent coordination, or belief space planning.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python; ROS/ROS2 experience.
• U.S. Citizen and ability to obtain necessary clearances.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of decentralized decision-making and motion planning algorithms for lunar rovers and orbital assets.
• Develop and implement robust software capable of enabling autonomous operations in challenging lunar environments.
• Collaborate with systems, mechanical, electrical, and thermal engineering teams to integrate autonomy software with hardware.
• Use simulation to improve autonomy performance and reliability in space.
• Conduct field tests and simulations to validate algorithms and software systems.
• Ensure software adheres to safety, reliability, and performance standards for space exploration.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, ICDs and verification plans.
• Participate in design reviews, trade studies, and risk assessments.
• Stay at the forefront of autonomy and robotics technology.

Skills

Autonomy software

Robotics for space

C++

Python

ROS/ROS2

Motion planning

Multi-agent systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Robotics

Tools

Docker

Git

Linux

Job description

Lunar Outpost is building the robotic systems that will enable humanity's return to the Moon and long-term operations beyond Earth. We are seeking a talented Space Robotics & Autonomy Engineer to develop the planning, navigation, and decision-making capabilities that power our lunar vehicles and spacecraft.

As a Space Robotics & Autonomy Engineer, you will develop advanced autonomy software for lunar rovers, spacecraft, and multi-agent robotic systems. You will design and implement motion planning, decision-making, task planning, and coordination algorithms that enable robotic systems to operate independently in challenging lunar and orbital environments. Working closely with flight hardware and fielded robotic systems, you will enable advanced autonomy capabilities on the next great frontier.

You will collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams across robotics, software, systems, electrical, and mechanical engineering to build a state-of-the-art autonomy stack for future lunar missions. This role is ideal for engineers with backgrounds in robotics, autonomous systems, mobile robots, multi-agent systems, artificial intelligence, motion planning, autonomous vehicles, or space robotics. We welcome candidates from robotics, aerospace, defence, field robotics, AI/ML, and advanced autonomy backgrounds who are excited to push the boundaries of what autonomous systems can accomplish in space.

Take the #NextLeap with Lunar Outpost and work on the Pegasus LTV, which will carry NASA astronauts farther than they've ever been before on the lunar surface!

Working Conditions / Schedule:

This position is required to be onsite Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Where applicable, employees may work remotely on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional hours may be required based on business needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of decentralized decision-making and motion planning algorithms for lunar rovers and orbital assets.


• Develop and implement robust software capable of enabling autonomous operations in challenging lunar environments.


• Collaborate with systems, mechanical, electrical, and thermal engineering teams to integrate and optimize autonomy software with asset hardware.


• Utilize simulation techniques to improve autonomous system performance and reliability under various conditions in space.


• Conduct field tests and simulations to validate and refine algorithms and software systems.


• Ensure software systems adhere to industry standards for safety, reliability, and performance in space exploration contexts.


• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including ICDs and verification plans.


• Participate in design reviews, trade studies, and technical risk assessments.


• Stay at the forefront of autonomy and robotics technology, incorporating the latest advancements into our projects.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Robotics Engineering, or related field


• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in developing autonomy software for autonomous systems, with a proven track record in navigation, perception, or belief space planning. Applicants should have expertise in at least one of the following areas:


• Methods for solving Markov decision processes (e.g., value iterate, Monte Carlo tree search, reinforcement learning)


• Coordinated planning and control of multi-agent systems


• Motion planning methods (e.g., A*, FMM, RRT)


• Belief space planning (e.g., BRM, RRBT)


• Tasking and scheduling


• Orbital planning and control algorithms


• Experience developing robotics software for autonomous vehicles, mobile robots, drones, spacecraft, planetary rovers, unmanned systems, or multi-robot platforms.


• Expertise in programming languages such as C++, Python, and familiarity with ROS/ROS2 (Robot Operating System)


• Comfortable working in research-oriented, agile, and interdisciplinary teams.


• Track record of innovation in networking, robotics, or space systems, as demonstrated by patents, publications, or significant project achievements


• Exceptional ability to communicate complex technical concepts and collaborate across various engineering disciplines


• U.S. Citizen

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in a field relevant to autonomy or robotics directly applicable to autonomous navigation and guidance


• Experience with autonomous systems in space, or other extreme, unstructured, environments.


• Familiarity with space operating systems (e.g., VxWorks) and software (e.g., cFS)


• Familiarity with containers (e.g., Docker) and virtualization software (e.g., VirtualBox)


• Experience with the end-to-end development and deployment of network software systems in space exploration missions

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation level and base salary are competitively structured and thoughtfully determined based on factors such as relevant skills, experience, education, and the scope of the role.

• Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits, with 70% of premiums covered by the employer


• Paid time off: Three (3) weeks per year of vacation


• Retirement plan: Up to 4% employer match on 401(k) contributions


• Paid holidays: 11 company-recognized holidays


• Parental leave


• Educational reimbursement opportunities to support company objectives, continued learning, and career development

Lunar Outpost Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Lunar Outpost Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. All employees, including executives and human resources personnel, are expected to conduct themselves with professionalism and treat others with dignity and respect in accordance with this policy.