Senior Autonomy Engineer – State Estimation

Are you passionate about building the autonomy systems that will power the next generation of robotic exploration?

We're partnering with an innovative aerospace company developing advanced autonomous vehicles and robotic systems for future lunar exploration missions. As a Senior Autonomy Engineer – State Estimation, you'll play a critical role in developing the navigation, localization, and sensor fusion technologies that enable autonomous vehicles to safely operate in some of the most challenging environments imaginable.

This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of robotics, autonomy, aerospace, and AI while helping shape the future of human and robotic exploration beyond Earth.

The Opportunity

As a technical leader within the autonomy team, you'll own the development of state estimation systems that underpin vehicle mobility, navigation, autonomy, safety, and mission operations.

You'll be responsible for architecting and delivering the full state estimation stack, including local state propagation, global localization, sensor fusion, fault detection, and uncertainty management for autonomous robotic platforms operating in GPS-denied environments.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the design and development of vehicle state estimation architectures

• Develop and validate advanced state filters including:

  • Extended Kalman Filters (EKF)

  • Unscented Kalman Filters (UKF)

  • Factor graph optimization methods

  • Probabilistic localization techniques

• Design global and relative localization solutions

• Fuse data from multiple onboard and external sensing systems

• Define estimator interfaces, timing requirements, covariance structures, and data products

• Develop observability analyses, consistency monitoring, and fault detection strategies

• Lead performance validation through simulation, field testing, and operational analysis

• Collaborate with sensor, systems, controls, and autonomy teams on calibration, latency management, and fault tolerance

• Investigate anomalies and perform root cause analysis during integration and operational testing

• Support field testing and vehicle validation campaigns

• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across autonomy initiatives

• Stay current with emerging technologies in robotics, navigation, localization, and autonomous systems

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Robotics, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related field

• 5+ years of experience developing state estimation systems for robotics, autonomous vehicles, aerospace, or related industries

• Deep understanding of:

  • State estimation theory

  • Uncertainty propagation

  • Observability analysis

  • Probabilistic filtering techniques

• Hands-on experience with:

  • EKF

  • UKF

  • Factor graph optimization

  • Smoothing-based estimation methods

• Experience with localization in complex or unstructured environments

• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python

• Experience working with ROS and robotic software frameworks

• Proven ability to lead technical efforts and mentor engineers

• U.S. Person status required

Preferred Experience

• GPS-denied navigation systems

• Planetary robotics or autonomous vehicle platforms

• Terrain-relative navigation and terrain matching

• Image-based localization techniques

• Sensor fusion for complex robotic systems

• Control system integration

• Fault management architectures

• Long-duration autonomous operations

• Simulation and validation toolchains

• Graduate degree in Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related disciplines

Why Join?

• Develop autonomy systems for vehicles operating in environments where GPS doesn't exist

• Solve some of the most challenging navigation and localization problems in industry

• Work alongside experts in robotics, aerospace, software, and systems engineering

• Influence vehicle architecture from concept through deployment

• See your work transition from simulation and testing into real-world mission operations

• Join a fast-moving engineering organization where technical contributions directly impact mission success

Benefits

• Competitive salary and equity opportunities

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• 401(k) with company match

• Generous PTO package

• Paid holidays

• Parental leave

• Professional development and educational reimbursement

• Opportunity to work on technologies helping define the future of autonomous exploration

If you're excited by state estimation, sensor fusion, localization, and autonomous robotics—and want to apply those skills to some of the most ambitious engineering challenges in the world—we'd love to speak with you.