Senior Autonomy Engineer - State Estimation

Job Description Salary: 137k-180kApply now, read the job details by scrolling down Double check you have the necessary skills before sending an application.Are you passionate about shaping the future of humanity's presence in space? Lunar Outpost, a trailblazer in space robotics, invites you to join our team! Lunar Outpost is dedicated to creating a sustainable presence in space, while also driving positive impacts here on Earth. We areseeking a talented, experienced Senior Autonomy Engineer - State Estimation. Asa part of our State EstimationTeam, you will play a pivotal role in developingcutting-edgeautonomous navigation and control systems for our lunarrovers. Working at the intersection of autonomy, robotics, and space exploration, youwillberesponsible for the architecture, development, and verification of the vehicle state estimation stack, including local state filters, global localization methods, and lunar surface state measurement solutions.This role provides technical leadership for a critical subsystem that underpins mobility, autonomy, safety, and mission operations.Collaborating with cross-disciplinary engineering teams,you'llbring yourexpertiseto solve complex challenges and drive the innovation needed to explore new frontiersin space.Key Responsibilities:Own the end-to-end state estimation architecture for robotic platforms, spanning local state propagation, global localization, outlier rejection, and external measurement integrationLead the design, implementation, and validation of state filters, including extended Kalmanfilters, factor-graph optimization, and related probabilistic estimatorsDevelop andmaintainbothglobaland relativelocalization solutionsFusestatemeasurementsfrom onboard and externalsourcesand infer dynamic constraints on state fromsources such asterrainfeatures, vehicle health signalsDefine estimator interfaces, data products, timing requirements, and covariance conventions for downstream consumers, including planning, control, fault management, and mission operationsEstablish estimator performance requirements, observability analyses, consistency checks, and failure detection strategiesLead offlineanalysis and field validation of estimation performance across representative operational scenariosGuide sensor fusion strategies in collaboration with sensor and systems engineering teams, including calibration, latency handling, and fault toleranceSupport anomaly investigation, estimator tuning, and root-cause analysis during integration and field operationsConduct field tests and simulations tovalidateand refile algorithms and softwaresystemsEnsuresoftware systems adhere to industry standards for safety, reliability, and performance in space exploration contextsMentor junior engineers and promote a culture of technical excellence and innovation within theteamStay at the forefront of autonomy and robotics technology, incorporating the latest advancements into our projectsRequired Qualifications:Experience in research and development ofperceptionand localization in unstructured environmentsBachelors degreeor higherinComputer Science, Robotic Engineering, or related fieldA minimum of5years of relevant professional experiencein developingstate estimation systems for robotics, autonomous vehicles, aerospace, or similar domainsDemonstratedexpertise with probabilistic state estimation techniques, including EKF, UKF, factor graphs, or smoothing-based methodsExperience with global localization or map-referenced estimation techniques, such as terrain matching, image-based localization, or absolute navigation methodsStrong foundationin estimation theory, uncertainty propagation, observability, andappliedfilteringExpertisein programming languages such as C++, Python, and familiarity with ROS (Robot Operating System)Experience leading technical direction or mentoring engineers on complex algorithmic systemsU.S. PersonPreferred Qualifications:Background inGPS-deniednavigation, planetary robotics, or operation in GPS-denied environmentsExperience integrating estimation with control systems, planners, or fault management frameworksExperience with photoclinometry, or terrainrelativenavigationFamiliarity with simulation and validation tools for estimation performance analysisExperience with long-duration autonomy, delayed updates, or intermittent absolute measurementsGraduate degree in robotics, aerospace, applied mathematics, ora related disciplineDemonstrated ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and communicate effectively across different engineering domainsAny offer of employment for this position is conditional upon Lunar Outpost receiving the LTVS SubCLIN 1C Awardfrom NASA. If the contract is not awarded to Lunar Outpost, this offer will be considered null and void, without further obligation to Lunar Outpost.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 employerPaid time off: Three (3) weeks per year of vacationRetirement plan: Up to 4% employer match on 401(k) contributionsPaid holidays: 11 company-recognized holidaysParental leaveEducational reimbursement opportunities to support company objectives, continued learning, and career developmentLunar an equal opportunity employer. xaygatp Lunar Outpost Inc. doesnot discriminateon the basis ofrace,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. Allemployees,including executives andhuman resources personnel, are expectedtoconduct themselves with professionalism andtreat others withdignityandrespect in accordance with this policy.