Image Processing Engineer III

Quantum Space•Rockville, MD

7d•$140,000 - $185,000•Onsite

About The Position

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly. We are seeking an Image Processing Engineer III who will be responsible for transitioning algorithm prototypes from conceptual design to operational readiness. This role requires an engineer who can design mathematical models to solve complex tracking and navigation problems under difficult lighting and environmental conditions. Beyond core development, this engineer will define and execute validation protocols to evaluate alternative or competitor algorithms against mission requirements. Additionally, the role bridges the gap between software and hardware by evaluating the feasibility of various sensor and optical systems to ensure they can deliver the input fidelity necessary for algorithmic success.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
5+ years of hands-on experience developing computer vision, image processing, or estimation algorithms in a production, research, or mission-critical environment.
Strong foundation in computer vision, image processing, estimation theory, linear algebra, probability, statistics, and numerical optimization.
Experience developing software in C++ and/or Python for algorithm development, simulation, and performance evaluation.
Experience designing, validating, and optimizing algorithms using real-world sensor data, synthetic datasets, or simulation environments.
Familiarity with camera systems, optical sensors, image formation, calibration, and the effects of lighting and environmental conditions on algorithm performance.
Experience with software development best practices, including version control, testing, debugging, documentation, and collaborative development workflows.
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively and collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) with relevant research may be considered in lieu of some professional experience.

Responsibilities

Advance and mature image processing and computer vision prototypes into production-ready software solutions.
Design and implement robust estimation logic to track and localize multiple visual features simultaneously within dynamic or challenging environments.
Develop mathematical models to estimate data confidence, handle measurement uncertainties, and provide reliable covariance metrics for downstream navigation or data fusion filters.
Implement robust outlier rejection, noise filtering, and subpixel refinement techniques to ensure high data precision and system stability.
Establish rigorous validation frameworks, simulation scenarios, and benchmarks to objectively evaluate and compare the performance of alternative algorithms.
Analyze and simulate the impacts of sensor and optical hardware characteristics (e.g., resolution, lens distortions, lighting sensitivity) on algorithm performance to guide system-level design choices.
Define, maintain, and implement clear software interfaces, data contracts, and schema-validated API structures for seamless integration into larger architectures.