Senior Computer Vision Engineer, Space

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Anduril's Space team is dedicated to expanding our AI-powered capabilities into the final frontier, enhancing Space Domain Awareness, Space Control, and Command and Control for U.S. military and allied partners. We're developing fully integrated hardware and software systems, including Lattice for Space Missions and modular payloads, to address growing threats in space and ensure our Guardians maintain a decisive advantage in this contested warfighting domain.

ABOUT THE JOB 

We are looking for a Senior Computer Vision Engineer  to join our rapidly growing team in  Costa Mesa, CA. In this role, you will be responsible for working on and understand the design of all perception subsystems to include but not limited to hardware sensors and advanced processing platforms, navigation algorithms, flight software implementation, subsystem integration & test (I&T), and vehicle I&T. The computer vision engineering team will work closely with related teams, including Sensors, GNC, Avionics, Systems, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and Ground Software. The Computer Vision Engineer will work algorithm design, truth and physics modeling, scene rendering, simulation and analysis for a wide variety of spacecraft and space missions to include but not limited to LEO, MEO, GEO, Reentry, and RPOD (Rendezvous Proximity Operations and Docking). The CV Engineer will help lead successful implementation, validation and CV operations of Anduril’s fleet of space vehicles.  This role is directly tied to ongoing, funded programs within Anduril’s Space Business Line. The programs require building and fielding a resilient, software-defined spacecraft systems across numerous mission threads. We work with mission partners and customers to deploy reliable and robust capabilities on operationally-relevant fielding timelines to meet complex challenges across the DOD and IC.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Propose and prototype innovative solutions to solve real world problems, leveraging the latest state-of-the-art techniques in the field
• Develop and maintain core libraries and runtime applications
• Integrate classical and geometric methods in computer vision with ML methods
• Work space vehicle CV software and hardware subsystems for various spacecraft efforts in all orbital regimes and work closely with partners for successful implementation
• Develop modern, software-defined approaches to autonomous spacecraft operations with maneuvering capabilities to successfully accomplish mission objectives
• Develop appropriate test plans and procedures to validate the CV system during ground checkout, on-orbit commissioning and operations
• Collaborate across multiple teams to plan, build, and test complex functionality
• Coordinate with end-users, other operators and customers to turn needs into features while balancing user experience with engineering constraints
• Support challenging schedules during ground testing, launch windows and on-orbit operations of the spacecraft systems
• Design of flight software and firmware, algorithms, and simulation products
• Development of space vehicle autonomy tools for dynamic space operations
• Test process development and execution
• Define automated fault detection and responses
• Provide hardware-in-the-loop and monte-carlo simulation capabilities

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• MS or PhD in Machine Learning, Robotics or Computer Science, Image Science with emphasis on Computer Vision
• BS in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• Advanced professional experience developing and benchmarking ML algorithms on large-scale datasets
• High proficiency in C++ development in a Linux environment
• Experience in one or more of the following: Objection Detection, Object Tracking, Instance Segmentation, Semantic Segmentation, Semantic Change Detection, Natural Feature Tracking (NFT)
• Experience in one or more of the following: Visual Odometry, SLAM, Multi-view Geometry, Structure from Motion, 3D Geometry, Discriminative Correlation Filters, Stereo, Neural 3D Reconstruction, Multi-band sensor processing, RGB-D and LIDAR Sensor Fusion
• Ability to quickly understand and navigate complex systems and detailed requirements
• Familiarity with terminal guidance, rendezvous proximity operations and docking, orbital mechanics with propulsive spacecraft, and/or spacecraft/missile GNC
• Clear communication and organizational skills including documentation and training material
• Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with Matlab, Simulink, Python, Go, C++ and/or Linux systems
• A desire to work on critical software and hardware designs in the space domain
• Strong preference for candidates possessing computer vision, vision navigation, image processing, feature tracking, SLAM, Open CV, and NFT
• Experience testing CV subsystems in laboratory environments that mimic the space environmental constraints
• Experience with orbital mechanics and resident space object tracking capabilities
• Experience conducting spacecraft operations and satellite command and control with an emphasis on system reliability and uptime
• Experience with testing/validation leveraging FlatSats, Hardware-in-the-Loop testbeds and digital spacecraft simulators through nominal and fault scenarios
• Experience with computer vision and perception algorithms to support GNC operations
• Experience developing 3-DOF simplified and 6-DOF high-fidelity dynamics simulation models used for GNC systems analysis and validation
• Exposure to US satellite operations policy and constraints for relevant mission threads in all orbits

US Salary Range

$191,000—$253,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including: 

Benefits

At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you’re supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.

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