Department: Software Engineering

Location: Hawthorne, California

Compensation: $140,000 - $200,000 / year

Description

Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

The Rover Navigation/Localization Engineer will be responsible for the design, analysis, development, tuning, verification, and validation of localization solutions for Astrolab’s rovers. Astrolab’s localization solutions utilize inputs from multiple types of sensors (e.g. IMU, star tracker, Lidar, cameras) to estimate vehicle state while also tolerating real world conditions such as data dropouts, invalid data, transmission latencies, and similar. The Rover Navigation/Localization Engineer will be creating localization solutions that function reliably under real world conditions.

Note: Some travel may be required for this position

What you'll do:

Design, prototype, and analyze navigation/localization algorithms for extraplanetary mobility systems using simulated and real data from motor resolvers, IMUs, star trackers, cameras, and LiDARs
Support development of a GNC simulation, sensor models, and tooling for analysis, verification, and validation of rover localization algorithms
Analyze localization algorithm performance under real-world conditions such as faulty sensors, invalid data, data dropouts, variable data latencies, and poor lighting conditions
Perform Monte Carlo analysis to demonstrate localization algorithm performance to a high degree of statistical significance under nominal and off-nominal conditions
Support navigation/localization flight software implementation, testing, and verification
Support field testing of localization solutions on multiple test platforms
Stand up automated pipelines, test scenarios, test pass/fail criteria, and test reports for localization flight software verification and validation
Support live rover operations and troubleshoot any localization issues that may arise during lunar operations

What you'll bring:

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
5+ years of experience designing, developing, and testing navigation and localization systems for rovers, autonomous vehicles, mobile robotic platforms, GPS-denied navigation systems, or similar applications
Experience developing and applying state-estimation or localization solutions using multiple sensor inputs, including IMUs, wheel encoders/resolvers, LiDAR, cameras, radar, GNSS, or similar sensors

Preferred Qualifications

Experience developing and applying odometry solutions using multiple sensor modalities
Experience designing, tuning, developing, analyzing, and verifying Kalman filters, particle filters, or similar state-estimation techniques
Experience applying vehicle kinematics and dynamics principles to wheeled vehicle navigation and localization problems
Experience developing, testing, or applying visual odometry solutions
Experience addressing real-world navigation and localization challenges, including invalid sensor data, packet loss, communication latency, image degradation, and similar operational conditions.
Experience supporting navigation or localization systems through multiple phases of the product lifecycle, including development, testing, integration, and operational support
Strong C++ and Python software development skills
Experience developing software tools for localization, perception, sensor-fusion tuning, performance analysis, and debugging
Experience with extraterrestrial rover navigation systems, planetary mobility systems, or other autonomous robotic exploration platforms
Experience working with GNC-related sensors and associated error characteristics, including IMUs, star trackers, LiDAR, cameras, radar, GNSS receivers, and similar devices

Benefits and Perks

Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
Equity ownership in the company
Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
401(k) plan with company match
Flexible PTO and parental leave
Home office set up reimbursement
Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks

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Rover Navigation/Localization Engineer