{"id":1557827,"url":"https://alion.io/job/foundational-optical-ssa-image-processing-engineer","title":"Optical SSA / Image Processing Engineer","company":{"id":173518,"name":"Foundational","domain":"foundational.io","url":"https://alion.io/company/foundational","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["London, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":44000,"max_usd":104000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":306},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Astropy","optional":false},{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Computer Vision","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-30T19:40:03Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-30","last_verified_at":"2026-10-01T12:52:13Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":1,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":1},"description":"Optical SSA / Image Processing Engineer\nThis is a future role. We're building a shortlist now and will contact you when it opens.\nAbout us\nFoundational is building the most precise picture of Earth and orbit, using lasers fired from the ground. We call it ground truth for orbit.\nWe design and run low-cost, autonomous satellite laser ranging stations. They measure the distance to satellites with extreme precision, day and night. Our data platform turns those measurements into tracking data and orbit products for satellite operators, space agencies and governments. We also build our own flight-proven laser retroreflector arrays, so any satellite can be tracked.\nOur station network is expanding across Europe, South America, Africa and Australia. The data supports resilient navigation, Earth observation and the safe, sustainable use of space.\nWe're a small, fast-moving team of engineers, scientists and operators in London. We're backed by venture investors and supported by ESA, the UK Space Agency, Innovate UK and the European Innovation Council.\nPosition Overview\nLondon · Full time · On-site\nAs well as ranging with lasers, our stations track satellites optically. You'll build the image processing that finds, tracks and measures objects in our camera data.\nWhat you'll do\nDevelop pipelines for detection, streak extraction and astrometry\n\nCalibrate cameras and timing so that measurements are accurate and traceable\n\nBuild real-time processing to support closed-loop tracking\n\nValidate results against catalogue orbits and our own laser data\n\nWork with the optics and software teams on camera selection and integration\n\nWhat you'll bring\nA degree in physics, astronomy, computer science or similar\n\nImage processing and computer vision in Python or C++\n\nAstrometry and photometry experience, for example with astropy or Source Extractor\n\nKnowledge of camera sensors: noise, calibration and time-stamping\n\nNice to have\nSpace situational awareness or satellite tracking\n\nGPU processing\n\nMachine learning for detection\n\nAmateur astronomy\n\nWhat We Offer\nA high-impact role with real ownership at an early-stage, venture-backed spacetech company\n\nEMI share options (UK employees)\n\n25 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays\n\nEnhanced Parental Leave\n\nCycle to work schemes\n\nWork alongside engineers and scientists across optics, lasers, software and astrodynamics\n\nOffices in central London, with snacks, tea, coffee and regular socials\n\nWe actively champion underrepresented groups and seek to bridge gaps in our workforce. If you're excited by the role but don't match every point, or you’re seeking a part time role, please apply anyway and add a note into your application. Building the best team is our priority.","description_format":"text","description_chars":2721,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Annual leave","Parental leave","Stock options"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Data Governance & Catalogs","Data Quality & Observability"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-01T02:49:55Z"}],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":0,"expected_fill_days":36,"reasons":["conf:2","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-01T05:45:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/foundational-optical-ssa-image-processing-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/foundational-optical-ssa-image-processing-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-01T20:22:03Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":2905,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":2095,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-02T00:00:00Z"}}}