Rover Navigation​/Localization Engineer

Rover Navigation/Localization Engineer

Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. We are singularly focused on designing, building, and operating a fleet of multi-purpose commercial planetary rovers to extend and enhance humanity's presence in the solar system. We are seeking motivated, creative, and exceptional people to join our world-class team. The rover navigation/localization engineer will be responsible for the design, analysis, development, tuning, verification, and validation of localization solutions for Astrolab's rovers.

Astrolab's localization solutions utilize inputs from multiple types of sensors (e.g. IMU, star tracker, Lidar, cameras) to estimate vehicle state while also tolerating real world conditions such as data dropouts, invalid data, transmission latencies, and similar. The rover navigation/localization engineer will be creating localization solutions that function reliably under real world conditions.

• Design, prototype, and analyze navigation/localization algorithms for extraplanetary mobility systems using simulated and real data from motor resolvers, IMUs, star trackers, cameras, and lidars
• Support development of a GNC simulation, sensor models, and tooling for analysis, verification, and validation of rover localization algorithms
• Analyze localization algorithm performance under real-world conditions such as faulty sensors, invalid data, data dropouts, variable data latencies, and poor lighting conditions
• Perform Monte Carlo analysis to demonstrate localization algorithm performance to a high degree of statistical significance under nominal and off-nominal conditions
• Support navigation/localization flight software implementation, testing, and verification
• Support field testing of localization solutions on multiple test platforms
• Stand up automated pipelines, test scenarios, test pass/fail criteria, and test reports for localization flight software verification and validation
• Support live rover operations and troubleshoot any localization issues that may arise during lunar operations

• 7+ years designing, developing, and testing real world navigation/localization systems for rovers or GPS-denied navigation systems for terrestrial wheeled vehicles
• Significant experience with odometry based on multiple sensors (e.g. IMU, wheel resolvers, LIDAR, cameras, etc.)
• Significant experience designing, tuning, developing, analyzing, and verifying Kalman filters, particle filters, or similar for wheeled vehicle navigation/localization
• Strong familiarity with equations of motion for wheeled vehicles operating on challenging terrain
• Experience with practical application of visual odometry algorithms
• Significant experience dealing with real world issues that affect navigation/localization system design and performance, such as invalid data, dropped packets, data latencies, blurry images, and similar
• Experience supporting a navigation/localization system through the entire lifecycle, from early design through live vehicle operations
• Strong C++ and Python coding skills
• Experience developing the tool suite needed for verification and validation of navigation/localization algorithms and flight software

• Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
• Equity ownership in the company
• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Flexible PTO and parental leave
• Home office set up reimbursement
• Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
• Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks

Having a strong, inclusive, and inspired team is essential to accomplishing our bold mission. Employees are our biggest asset, and we are deeply committed to them and our values. At Astrolab we…

Demonstrate and inspire trust. Interactions are direct, honest, and respectful. We are fair and transparent with what we do and why.

Thrive in balance. Balance gives us perspective and keeps us motivated and inspired. We commit to rewarding work and a fulfilling personal life.

Seek diverse perspectives. We ask questions, engage in productive debate and offer alternatives to ensure our solutions and products are robust and a reflection of our collective best.

Move with purpose. Quality and reliability are accomplished through efficient ideation and iteration. We act with a sense of urgency and deliver what we promise, always with the big picture in mind.

Make an impact. We intentionally move our community and industry into the future through our work, practices, and actions.

Stage 1:
Application Review

Stage 2:
Recruiter Phone Interview

Stage 3:
Video Interviews

Stage 4:
On-site Interview

Stage 5:
Offer

Stage 6:
Hired

Find out more

Astrolab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion,…