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)

We are seeking a talented individual to contribute to the development of robotics hazard detection, obstacle avoidance, and/or structure for motion (SfM) and SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) software for lunar exploration missions.

Job Responsibilities:

• Develop algorithms for detecting lunar driving hazards such as rocks, craters, and slopes.
• Determine sensing requirements and design fallback operations and avoidance maneuvers.
• Integrate surface-perspective imagery and orbital-perspective imagery for absolute localization through feature fusion.
• Design algorithms and processing pipelines for efficient data processing.
• Interface with online and ground-based localization architectures.
• Define state vectors and dynamic parameters, and design estimation algorithms with bounded safety while characterizing major risks.
• Develop tuning and calibration processes.
• Document verification and validation procedures along with major risks.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Python and/or C++ programming languages.
• Experience with depth sensing modalities such as stereo vision, lidar, or structured light.
• Strong experience with computer vision algorithms.
• Exposure to state estimation and/or localization techniques.
• Familiarity with point cloud analysis.

Desired Skills & Qualifications:

• Applied experience in stereo vision and classical object detection techniques like contours and RANSAC.
• Applied experience with camera calibration techniques.
• Experience with optimization techniques including linear and non-linear systems.
• Familiarity with learning-based detection methods such as supervised neural networks.
• Experience with trajectory optimization and constrained optimization.
• Familiarity with cFS (Core Flight Software) or flight software.
• 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.