{"id":878832,"url":"https://alion.io/job/lodestarspace-software-engineer-i-or-ii-state-estimation-prediction","title":"Software Engineer - Localisation, State Estimation & Prediction (I, II)","company":{"id":716996,"name":"Lodestar","domain":"lodestar.space","url":"https://alion.io/company/lodestar-2","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":3,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-27T05:46:45Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"middle","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Los Angeles, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":99000,"max":133000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":133000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"PyTorch","optional":false},{"name":"TensorFlow","optional":false},{"name":"TensorFlow C++","optional":false},{"name":"Transformers","optional":false},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":true},{"name":"CUDA","optional":true},{"name":"Docker","optional":true},{"name":"Git","optional":true},{"name":"Kubernetes","optional":true},{"name":"Linux","optional":true},{"name":"Sensor Fusion","optional":true},{"name":"TensorRT","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-07T12:35:41Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-23","last_verified_at":"2026-10-27T16:56:17Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":50,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":50},"description":"About Lodestar\nLodestar's mission is to develop the first \"Protect and Defend\" capability for high-value space assets in orbit. Our flagship product MITHRIL is our hardware-agnostic, AI-enabled autonomy software suite that enables us to augment any off-the-shelf spacecraft with the ability to autonomously detect, characterise, and reversibly neutralise orbital threats. By building on the proven space heritage of our best-in-class satellite-bus partners and fully integrating MITHRIL into single unified platform, we deliver an end-to-end, autonomous in-space bodyguarding service.\nAbout the Job\nAt Lodestar, as aGraduate Software Engineer (I or II): State Estimation & Prediction, you’ll be leading the development of our state estimation and prediction models at the core of Lodestar’s flagship product, MITHRIL. You’ll be focusing on researching and developing algorithms that fuse probabilistic estimation with machine learning to track targets, predict trajectories and assess intent.\nWe proudly have an \"extreme ownership\" oriented engineering culture. \nWhat You’ll Do\nContribute to the design and implementation of Lodestar's core state estimation and prediction architecture for autonomous spacecraft operations\nSupport research into novel estimation and prediction algorithms, from literature review through training and tuning to optimisation and deployment\nImplement, test, and benchmark classical and neural estimators that track the current state and trajectory of multiple dynamic targets in real time\nBuild and evaluate neural models that forecast future trajectories and behavioural patterns of targets\nAssist in the development of intent inference models that identify actions and dynamically rank threat levels\nIntegrate state estimation and prediction models into mission simulation environments and autonomy decision systems\nCollaborate with cross-functional teams, including perception and on-board autonomy, to ensure prediction fidelity, robustness, and scalability across missions\nBasic Qualifications\nBachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Aerospace, Robotics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field, completed within the last 24 months or due to be completed before your start date\nWorking proficiency in C++ and Python, evidenced through coursework, research, internships, or personal projects\nGrounding in probabilistic state estimation (Kalman filters, particle filters, Bayesian inference), whether from taught modules, research, or self-directed work\nPractical exposure to a deep learning framework (PyTorch, TensorFlow), including sequence modelling (seq2seq, RNNs, LSTMs, Transformers)\nFamiliarity with trajectory modelling, multi-body dynamics, or orbital mechanics\nDemonstrated ability to work through open-ended technical problems and communicate your reasoning clearly\nPreferred Skills & Experience\nInternship, industrial placement, or research assistantship in aerospace, robotics, estimation, or a related field\nA dissertation, thesis, or capstone project in state estimation, sensor fusion, or trajectory forecasting\nExperience applying sequence-to-sequence models to forecasting problems in dynamic environments\nFamiliarity with sensor fusion techniques (e.g. combining radar, optical, and inertial data)\nExposure to GPU acceleration (CUDA, TensorRT) for neural network training and inference\nExperience with Linux, Git, and CI/CD pipelines\nFamiliarity with containerisation tools such as Docker and Kubernetes\nAwareness of real-time systems, multi-threading, and performance optimisation\nUnderstanding of networking and communication protocols for distributed autonomy systems\nContributions to open-source projects, or participation in student rocketry, CubeSat, robotics, or autonomous vehicle teams\nITAR Requirements\nTo conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.\nCompensation & Benefits\nOur full band structure for this role:(P1) Entry: $99,000 - $133,000 / year\n(P2) Developing: $115,000 - $174,000 / year\n\nMeaningful equity incentives as part of our employee option pool\nFlexible PTO with generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave\nComprehensive medical, dental & vision coverage\n401(k) retirement plan with company match\nBased in Los Angeles\nAdditional Information\nCompensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options , and access to medical, vision and dental coverage, as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.\nLodestar is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Lodestar is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5452,"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":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Retirement plans","Stock options"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Space Services","Defense AI"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-13T22:59:16Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":18,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.511,"p_room":0.35,"age_days":49,"expected_fill_days":23,"reasons":["conf:2","win:tail"],"computed_at":"2026-10-27T05:46:45Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":133000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/lodestarspace-software-engineer-i-or-ii-state-estimation-prediction","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/lodestarspace-software-engineer-i-or-ii-state-estimation-prediction.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-27T18:35:36Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":8732,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-28T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":716996},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=716996"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Flodestarspace-software-engineer-i-or-ii-state-estimation-prediction"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Flodestarspace-software-engineer-i-or-ii-state-estimation-prediction"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Flodestarspace-software-engineer-i-or-ii-state-estimation-prediction"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/lodestarspace-software-engineer-i-or-ii-state-estimation-prediction\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Flodestarspace-software-engineer-i-or-ii-state-estimation-prediction"}]}