Astrobotic Technology, Inc. is a space robotics company that seeks to make space accessible to the world.  The company’s suite of lunar landers delivers payloads to the Moon for companies, governments, universities, non-profits, and individuals.  The company is also developing advanced space robotics capabilities such as terrain relative navigation, mobile robotics for lunar surface operations, and reliable computing systems for mission-critical applications.  Originally spun out of Carnegie Mellon University in 2007, Astrobotic is pioneering affordable planetary access that promises to spark a new era of exploration, science, tourism, resource utilization, and mining.  Astrobotic’s headquarters is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a second location in Mojave, California. 

Time frame: Summer 2024 (Flexible on start – intent is for this to be an ~12-week internship)

Description: Graphics and simulation software development to enhance modeling of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and debris detection scenarios, particularly focusing on the utilization of novel vision sensors.

Job Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Graphics and Simulation team to integrate features pertinent to the unresolved optical sensing of spacecraft and debris from space into Astrobotic’s real-time physics-based simulation engine.
• Implement and test functionality such as unresolved imaging of targets, detailed star map integration, long exposure support of moving objects (motion blur), and novel sensor models (e.g., photon counting sensors).

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Proficient in C++ for graphics programming with a solid understanding of software development principles.
• Solid background and understanding of computer graphics and computer vision.

Desired Skills & Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing or possessing a degree in Computer Science, Physics/Astronomy, or similar with focus in Computer Graphics, Computer Vision, or Physics Simulation.
• Experience with physics-based simulation or real-time ray tracing.
• Experience with space domain awareness or other imaging astronomy applications.

The base salary range represents the low and high end of the anticipated salary range for this position. The actual base salary offered for this position will depend on numerous factors including individual performance, business objectives, and the candidates professional experience.  Base salary is just one component of Astrobotic’s competitive total rewards strategy.

To 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.

Astrobotic Technology, Inc. does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to contact@astrobotic.com.