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Impulse Space

In-space propulsion and payload mobility

Senior Optical Navigation Engineer - Lunar

Flight Dynamics & GNCPosted on Nov 7
Full-timeRedondo Beach, CA, USA$210k - $300k /yrIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Physics, or a related discipline.
  • At least 8 years of experience in spacecraft navigation, orbit determination, or estimation.
  • Experience in vision-based navigation design and implementation.
  • Demonstrated experience in verification, simulation, or testing of navigation or perception systems.
  • Proficiency in MATLAB and C++.
  • Demonstrated experience designing and implementing spacecraft navigation.
  • Strong technical communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Own the onboard optical navigation algorithms and software for the lunar lander across all phases of development and operation.
  • Design, develop, and tune navigation algorithms for low-lunar-orbit navigation, descent, and landing.
  • Provide inputs for the camera system that supplies imagery to the terrain-relative navigation system.
  • Implement terrain-relative navigation algorithms and software, including crater detection and matching and image comparison for odometry.
  • Perform spacecraft navigation analyses, including orbit determination, attitude determination, covariance analysis, and navigation error budgets.
  • Develop and validate simulated sensor and measurement models in the 6DOF simulation environment.
  • Implement navigation algorithms in C++ flight code and support software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop integration and testing.
  • Perform Monte Carlo analysis to characterize navigation performance under dispersed and off-nominal conditions.
  • Generate navigation verification data for lunar missions.
  • Support navigation operations, including real-time orbit determination, console support, and anomaly response during critical mission phases.
  • Communicate navigation design needs, intent, performance, trade-offs, and risk to the broader engineering team.

About the Company

Impulse Space

In-space propulsion and payload mobility

Impulse Space builds in-space mobility services and propulsion to move payloads after launch. Its products include Mira for precise maneuvering and rendezvous, Helios high-energy kick stage, Caravan rideshare to higher-energy orbits, and propulsion lines Saiph, Deneb, and Rigel. These tools act as in-space tugs and stages to push, dock, and deploy payloads in orbit. Led by SpaceX veteran Tom Mueller, Impulse Space uses flight-proven hardware and a growing network of facilities to make reaching higher-energy orbits faster and cheaper, expanding access for customers.

Company size
501-1,000
Company stage
Series D
Total funding
$1.4B
Headquarters
Redondo Beach, CA
Founded
2021

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