Systems Engineer - GNC

lunaroutpost; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health coverage including dental and vision

Paid time off: three weeks per year

Retirement plan with employer match

Paid holidays: 11 company-recognized holidays

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement opportunities

Job summary

Lunar Outpost, located in Golden, Colorado, is seeking a Systems Engineer - GNC who will be essential in developing autonomous navigation and control systems for lunar rovers. You will work alongside a team of engineers to define, document, and verify sophisticated software solutions that empower our rovers to explore the lunar surface independently.

This role involves cross-disciplinary collaboration and offers a unique opportunity to contribute to pioneering space missions. Compensation includes comprehensive health coverage, paid time off, and a robust retirement plan.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in autonomy software for robotic or autonomous systems.
• Experience in unstructured environments for perception, localization, and controls.
• Hands-on experience integrating software with sensors and actuators.

Responsibilities

• Define and document autonomous navigation and control systems.
• Participate in milestone design reviews and technical risk assessments.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate autonomy software.

Skills

C++

Python

ROS (Robot Operating System)

Navigation

Perception

Control systems

Education

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

Tools

Embedded systems

GPU acceleration

FPGA integration

Job description

Are you passionate about shaping the future of humanity's presence in space? Lunar Outpost, an industry leader in space robotics and planetary vehicles, invites you to join our team! Lunar Outpost is dedicated to creating a permanent presence in space, while also driving positive impacts here on Earth. Currently, we are seeking a Systems Engineer - GNC to contribute to our mission in a dynamic startup environment. As a Systems Engineer - GNC, you will play a pivotal role in developing cutting‑edge autonomous navigation and control systems for our lunar rovers. Working at the intersection of autonomy, robotics, and space exploration, you will aid in defining, documenting, and verifying the integrity of sophisticated software solutions that enable our rovers to operate independently on the lunar surface. Your work will not only contribute to groundbreaking missions but also to technologies that have the potential to benefit humanity on Earth. Collaborating with cross‑disciplinary engineering teams, you'll bring your expertise to solve complex challenges and drive the innovation needed to explore new frontiers.

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!

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with technical leads to define and document autonomous navigation, control systems, and decision‑making algorithms for lunar rovers
• Contribute to systems engineering processes, including requirement decomposition, traceability, system interfaces, and verification & validation (V&V)
• Participate in milestone design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.), trade studies, and technical risk assessments
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including ICDs and V&V plans
• Collaborate with systems, mechanical, electrical, avionics, and thermal engineering teams to integrate and optimize autonomy software with rover hardware
• Analyze data to improve autonomous system performance and reliability under various lunar conditions
• Support rigorous testing campaigns to verify the safety of autonomous systems through hardware‑in‑the‑loop simulations and field‑testing
• Identify, propose, and implement process improvements to streamline robotics development
• Ensure software systems adhere to industry standards for safety, reliability, and performance in space exploration contexts
• Stay at the forefront of autonomy, robotics, and control technology, incorporating the latest advancements into our projects

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of 3+ years of relevant professional experience in autonomy software for robotic or autonomous systems, with a proven track record in navigation, perception, and/or control systems
• Experience in research and development of perception, localization, and controls in unstructured environments
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Robotics, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
• Expertise in programming languages such as C++, Python, and familiarity with ROS (Robot Operating System)
• Hands‑on experience integrating software with sensors, actuators, or embedded systems
• U.S. Person

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s or Ph.D. in a field relevant to autonomy, robotics, or AI, with research or projects directly applicable to autonomous navigation or robotics
• Experience with autonomous systems in space, or other extreme, unstructured environments
• Familiarity with GPU acceleration, FPGA integration, or real‑time OS environments
• Experience with industry standards such as MISRA & DO-178B
• Familiarity with SLAM, POMDPs, or other advanced planning and decision‑making frameworks
• Demonstrated ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and communicate effectively across different engineering domains

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.