Senior Software Engineer - Perception

Lunar Outpost, Inc.

$100K — $130K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or higher in Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace, or related field
  • Minimum 4 years of experience in sensor development for autonomous systems
  • Experience with sensing modalities such as cameras, LiDAR, radar, or IMUs
  • Expertise in low-level data handling and middleware like ROS
  • Strong understanding of time synchronization and calibration
  • Self-motivated with excellent time management skills
  • Effective in written and oral communication

Responsibilities

  • Maintain and enhance the sensing stack, including data processing pipelines
  • Lead integration of sensor data into autonomous systems
  • Collaborate with cross-disciplinary engineering teams to optimize sensing architectures
  • Evaluate sensor performance through simulations and field tests and resolve integration issues
  • Define sensor hardware mounting standards and constraints
  • Manage vendor relationships and component procurement
  • Mentor junior engineers and foster a culture of innovation

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health coverage with 70% of premiums covered by employer
  • Three weeks of paid vacation per year
  • 401(k) plan with up to 4% employer match
  • 11 paid holidays annually
  • Parental leave
  • Educational reimbursement opportunities
Full Job Description
We are seeking a talented, experienced Senior Software Engineer - Perception. As the engineer responsible for the Sensors on our Pegusus Vehicle, you will play a pivotal role in developing perception systems. Working at the intersection of autonomy, robotics, and space exploration, you will lead the design, development, and implementation of sophisticated sensing 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 define the future of lunar surface mobility in a fast-paced startup environment.

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:
  • Maintain and improve the sensing stack, from component selection and interface design to data processing pipelines and sensor fusion integration
  • Lead the integration of sensor data into autonomous systems, including interfacing with localization, mapping, and planning subsystems
  • Collaborate with systems, mechanical, electrical, and thermal engineering teams to integrate and optimize sensing architectures with vehicle hardware
  • Evaluate sensor performance in simulation and field tests; identify and resolve hardware/software integration issues
  • Define and enforce sensor hardware mounting standards, interfacing, and environmental constraints
  • Own vendor relationships, component procurement, and hardware bring up
  • Mentor junior engineers and promote a culture of technical excellence and innovation


Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's or higher in Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace, or related field
  • A minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience in sensor development and integration for autonomous or robotic systems
  • Demonstrated experience with one or more sensing modalities: stereo/mono cameras, LiDAR, radar, IMUs, encoders, etc.
  • Expertise in low-level data handling, sensor drivers, and middleware (ROS, cFS, etc.)
  • Strong understanding of time synchronization, coordinate transformations, and calibration methods
  • Self-motivated, focused, and driven to meet critical deadlines
  • Excellent organization and time management skills
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • U.S. Person


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's or Ph.D. field relevant to sensing or perception, with research or projects directly applicable to autonomous navigation or robotics
  • Familiarity with spaceflight or safety-critical sensor integration practices, in extreme, unstructured environments(NASA Class A, DO-160, MIL-STD-810)
  • Experience designing or deploying sensor fusion algorithms (e.g., EKF, EUF, factor graphs)
  • Background in real-time perception or SLAM systems on embedded hardware
  • 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


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