Detection & Tracking Engineer

Detection & Tracking Engineer

Location: Turin, Italy

Full-Time

Salary Range: €30,000 - €50,000

Join ORiS and help build the future of energy in space.

At ORiS, we are building the technologies that will power the next generation of space missions. Through laser-based wireless power transmission, we aim to overcome the energy limitations of today’s satellites and enable longer, more capable, and more resilient operations in orbit.

As a Detection & Tracking Engineer, you will develop vision-based algorithms that enable our systems to detect, recognize, and track target satellites against complex orbital backgrounds. You will work on distinguishing satellites and their solar panels from stars, noise, and other objects in the field of view, estimating their position within the acquired images, and providing real-time pointing feedback to the laser transmission system.

This is a role combining computer vision, image processing, estimation, and machine learning. You will contribute to the development of autonomous optical detection and tracking technologies that are critical to achieving accurate and reliable laser-to-satellite pointing.

What You Will Do

• Design and develop vision-based algorithms for the detection, recognition, and tracking of target satellites and their solar panels.
• Develop image-processing and machine-learning techniques to distinguish the target spacecraft from stars, noise, and other objects within the sensor’s field of view.
• Estimate the target’s position and motion within acquired images and generate real-time feedback for the pointing and tracking system.
• Develop and train machine-learning models for satellite recognition, segmentation, and feature extraction using synthetic and experimental datasets.
• Design robust tracking algorithms capable of maintaining target lock under changing illumination conditions, partial visibility, image noise, and low signal-to-noise ratios.
• Define confidence metrics and target-validation logic to prevent false detections and incorrect pointing commands.
• Integrate detection and tracking algorithms with optical sensors, pointing mechanisms, control systems, and onboard software.
• Build simulation environments and generate synthetic imagery to develop, train, and validate perception algorithms under representative orbital conditions.
• Evaluate detection accuracy, tracking stability, processing latency, and pointing-feedback performance through simulations, laboratory testing, and hardware-in-the-loop activities.
• Optimize algorithms for reliable real-time execution on embedded or onboard computing platforms.
• Collaborate closely with Optical, GNC, Software, Electronics, and Systems Engineering teams throughout the development and validation process.
• Support laboratory testing, sensor characterization, hardware integration, and system-level verification activities.

What We Are Looking For

• MSc or PhD in Computer Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Experience in computer vision, image processing, object detection, or visual tracking.
• Strong proficiency in Python and familiarity with C++.
• Experience with machine-learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Familiarity with OpenCV and image-processing libraries.
• Knowledge of target tracking and state-estimation techniques, such as Kalman Filters or Bayesian estimation.
• Understanding of optical sensors, camera systems, and image calibration.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with professional proficiency in English.

Nice to Have

• Experience with satellite imagery, spaceborne optical systems, or Space Situational Awareness applications.
• Familiarity with deep-learning architectures for object detection or segmentation, such as YOLO, Faster R-CNN, or DETR.
• Knowledge of orbital mechanics, relative navigation, or spacecraft pointing systems.
• Experience with synthetic-data generation and simulation-based model training.
• Familiarity with real-time deployment on embedded systems, GPUs, or edge-computing platforms.
• Experience with ROS/ROS2, CUDA, or hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Why ORiS

• Work on innovative satellite missions and advanced space technologies
• Play a key role in shaping system-level decisions that directly impact mission success
• Collaborate with highly skilled engineers across multiple technical disciplines
• Gain exposure to cutting-edge space programs and emerging technologies
• Grow professionally within a fast-growing and ambitious space company
• Be part of a culture driven by innovation, ownership, and technical excellence

Our Offer

• Salary Range: € 30,000 – €50,000 (depending on experience)
• EUR 1,000 per year in fringe benefits
• EUR 8 meal vouchers per working day
• Flexible smart working arrangements, subject to project needs
• Stock option plan

If you want to help create the future of energy in space and contribute to technologies that could transform the way humanity operates beyond Earth, join ORiS.