Software Engineer - Communications Optimization

Are you passionate about shaping the future of humanity's presence in space? Lunar Outpost, a trailblazer in space robotics, invites you to join our team! Lunar Outpost is dedicated to creating a sustainable presence in space, while also driving positive impacts here on Earth. We are seeking a talented, experienced Software Engineer. As a Software Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in developing cutting-edge algorithms that implement resilient, lightweight, and decentralized network solutions for edge environments. Working at the intersection of autonomy, robotics, and space exploration, you will design, develop, and implement sophisticated software solutions that enable coordination of cross-domain autonomous systems. Your work will not only contribute to groundbreaking missions but also to technologies that have the potential to benefit humanity on Earth. Collaborating with cross-disciplinary engineering teams, you will help drive the integration of these systems into a unified, state-of-the-art network stack, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in space exploration. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Design and implement networking architectures and protocols for distributed robotic systems, focusing on secure mesh and DTN principles 


• Modelling of asset motion and links to prioritize traffic sent through dynamic networks
  


• Integrate, evaluate, and optimize performance of novel network protocols in hardware-in-loop simulations, field-tests, and physical deployments (e.g., orbital, aerial, ground) 


• Collaborate with systems, mechanical, electrical, and thermal engineering teams to integrate and optimize software on space and ground assets  


• Stay abreast of advancements in networking, robotics, and space exploration technologies, leveraging new findings to enhance our systems  


• Develop and implement robust software that enables autonomous operations in challenging orbital and lunar environments


• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including ICDs and verification plans, to ensure accurate and up-to-date information  


• Participate in design reviews, trade studies, and technical risk assessments


• Ensure software systems adhere to industry standards for safety, reliability, and performance in space exploration contexts

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or related field
  


• A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in network engineering, with a strong focus on robotics or space systems. 


• Applicants should have expertise in one or more of the following: 
  
  
  
  • Mesh networking protocols (e.g., 11s, BATMAN, OLSR, Babel)
    
  
  
  • Delay-Tolerant Networking (e.g., Bundle Protocol, ION)
    
  
  
  • Predictive modelling (e.g., orbital dynamics, differential drive robots, network delays, atmospheric physics)
    
  
  
  • Optimization and Operations Research (e.g., graph theory, route planning)
    
  
  
  • Expertise in programming languages such as C++ and Python 
  
  
  • Expertise in navigating and configuring Linux devices 
  
  
  
  


• Comfortable working in research-oriented, agile, and interdisciplinary teams


• Track record of innovation in networking, robotics, or space systems, as demonstrated by patents, publications, or significant project achievements
  


• Exceptional ability to communicate complex technical concepts and collaborate across various engineering disciplines
  


• U.S. Person 
  

Preferred Qualifications 

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a robotics-related field 


• 3+ years of experience working with mobile or autonomous systems in space, or other extreme, unstructured environments


• Experience with the ROS or similar flight software (e.g., cFS, FDDS) 


• Familiarity with network emulation/simulation tools (e.g., MiniNet, Cloonix)


• Familiarity with space operating systems (e.g., VxWorks)
  


• Familiarity with containers (e.g., Docker) and virtualization software (e.g., VirtualBox)
  


• Experience deploying software on embedded or fieldable hardware (e.g., Jetson, Raspberry Pi, microcontrollers, FPGA)


• Experience with network security or resilience in adversarial environments is a plus

Lunar Outpost is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against protected characteristics (gender, age, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, disability, veteran status). We want all employees (including executives and HR) to treat others with respect and professionalism.