Astrobotic Technology, Inc. is a space robotics company that seeks to make space accessible to the world. The company’s suite of lunar landers delivers payloads to the Moon for companies, governments, universities, non-profits, and individuals. The company is also developing advanced space robotics capabilities such as terrain relative navigation, mobile robotics for lunar surface operations, and reliable computing systems for mission-critical applications. Originally spun out of Carnegie Mellon University in 2007, Astrobotic is pioneering affordable planetary access that promises to spark a new era of exploration, science, tourism, resource utilization, and mining. Astrobotic’s headquarters is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a second location in Mojave, California.

Time frame : Summer 2024 (Flexible on start – intent is for this to be an ~12-week internship)

Description : Software development of optical and astrometrical modeling tools for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and debris detection scenarios to aid in the derivation of systems engineering requirements of a real sensor.

** Job Responsibilities:**

• Collaborate with the Graphics and Simulation team and other subject-matter experts to develop analysis tools pertinent to the unresolved optical sensing and tracking of spacecraft and debris from space.
• Create and validate Python/MATLAB tools for optical and astrometrical modeling of spacecraft and space debris to support systems engineering analyses.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Graduate student specializing in Space Domain Awareness (SDA), Astronomy, or Aerospace Engineering. Undergraduate or graduate students with experience in Physics, Optics, Astronomy, Aerospace Orbital Mechanics, or Computer Vision are also encouraged to apply.
• Proficient in Python or MATLAB with a solid understanding of software development principles.
• Solid background and understanding of computer vision and camera systems.

Desired Skills & Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing or possessing a degree in Computer Science, Physics/Astronomy/Optics, Aerospace Engineering, or similar.
• Experience with modeling optical and camera systems.
• Experience with orbital mechanics or orbit determination for spacecraft.
• Experience with space situational awareness or other imaging astronomy applications.

The base salary range represents the low and high end of the anticipated salary range for this position. The actual base salary offered for this position will depend on numerous factors including individual performance, business objectives, and the candidates professional experience. Base salary is just one component of Astrobotic’s competitive total rewards strategy.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Astrobotic Technology, Inc. does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to contact@astrobotic.com.