Task and Motion Planning Engineer

Lunar Outpost • Golden, CO

3d

About The Position

Lunar Outpost, a trailblazer in space robotics, is seeking a talented, experienced Task and Motion Planning Engineer to play a pivotal role in the development of cutting-edge decision making and planning systems for their lunar rovers and orbital assets. This role involves working at the intersection of autonomy, robotics, and space exploration, designing, developing, and implementing sophisticated software solutions that enable the coordination of cross-domain autonomous systems. The engineer will collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to integrate these systems into a unified autonomy stack, contributing to groundbreaking missions and technologies with the potential to benefit humanity on Earth. The role offers the opportunity to work on the Pegasus LTV, which will carry NASA astronauts farther than they've ever been before on the lunar surface.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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
• Expertise in programming languages such as C++, Python, and familiarity with ROS (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

Nice To Haves

• 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

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of decentralized decision-making 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

Benefits

• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior