Senior Computer Vision Engineer

Job A

Date Posted:
February 3, 2026

Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) delivers advanced multi-domain solutions to protect national security and enable scientific discovery. Our expertise in satellites, sensors and instruments, ground systems and data processing, and autonomous systems plays a critical role in missions supporting NASA and the Department of Defense. Join our team of engineers, scientists, technicians, and business professionals in our seventh decade of delivering mission success.

Our division is a key component of national security, providing technological solutions and expert mission support. Become part of a team dedicated to making a tangible contribution to our nation’s defense capabilities.

We are seeking a Computer Vision Engineer with expertise in algorithm development and AI to lead real‑time imaging projects and software frameworks for U.S. Military and NASA space missions. The selected candidate will partner with flight software, guidance navigation & control (GN&C), and systems engineers to deliver high‑performance, reliable solutions for spacecraft docking, proximity operations, satellite refueling, and other space‑based operations.

• Algorithm Development
  • Designs, implements, and optimizes classical and modern CV/ML algorithms (object detection, tracking, segmentation, SLAM, pose estimation, etc.) for both on‑board and ground‑based processing
• Technology Strategy
  • Influences SDL’s advanced imaging roadmap and contributes to community standards
• System Integration
  • Works closely with FSW and GNC teams to embed vision pipelines into flight software and ground‑segment tools
• Mentorship
  • Guides junior CV/AI engineers, conducts code reviews, and shares best practices
• Framework Architecture
  • Defines modular, scalable software architectures and CI/CD pipelines for vision applications

• Spacecraft refueling and docking
• In‑space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM)
• Space‑domain awareness (SDA)
• Satellite inspection and relative navigation
• Pose and state estimation

• Deep learning, neuromorphic / event‑based sensing, edge AI
• Real‑time / low‑latency processing, GPU acceleration
• Structure‑from‑motion, VSLAM / SLAM
• Classical CV (pinhole camera models, coordinate transforms)

• Languages: Python, C++, MATLAB/Simulink
• Libraries: OpenCV, PyTorch, Tensor Flow, Hugging Face, etc.
• Dev Ops: Git, CI/CD, Agile/Scrum, Atlassian suite (JIRA, Confluence, Bitbucket)

• Education
  • Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in computer vision, computer science, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline
• Experience
  • 7+ years of experience designing and deploying computer vision systems in a professional environment
  • Experience architecting modular, testable software (Agile, CI, version control)
• Technical Skills
  • Mastery of modern CV/ML frameworks (PyTorch, Tensor Flow, etc.)
  • Strong foundation in classical vision (camera models, coordinate transforms, object detection)
  • Proficiency in Python, C++, and/or MATLAB for image processing
• Security Clearance
  • Must be a U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain U.S. Government security clearance
• Leadership
  • Demonstrated ability to mentor junior engineers and lead technical discussions (white‑boarding, UML, design docs)

• Experience with automatic code‑generation from MATLAB/Simulink.
• Prior work on space‑qualified software (flight or ground systems).
• Knowledge of edge AI hardware (NVIDIA Jetson, FPGA, neuromorphic chips).
• Familiarity with the Atlassian toolset for project tracking and documentation.

In your cover letter or CV, address the following items:

• $93,000 - $156,000
  • Salary commensurate based on…