Lodestar Space
Software Engineer - Localization, State Estimation & Prediction
Lodestar Space, Los Angeles, California, United States, 90079
Overview
Software Engineer - Localization, State Estimation & Prediction at Lodestar Space About Lodestar
Lodestar's mission is to develop the first "Protect and Defend" capability for high-value space assets in orbit. Our flagship product MITHRIL is our hardware-agnostic, AI-enabled autonomy software suite that enables us to augment any off-the-shelf spacecraft with the ability to autonomously detect, characterise, and reversibly neutralise orbital threats. By building on the proven space heritage of our best-in-class satellite-bus partners and fully integrating MITHRIL into a single unified platform, we deliver an end-to-end, autonomous in-space bodyguarding service. What Youll Do
Design and implement Lodestars core state estimation and prediction architecture for autonomous spacecraft operations Research and implement novel estimation and prediction algorithms - everything from literature review, through training and tuning, to optimization and deployment Develop classical and neural estimators to track the current state and trajectory of multiple dynamic targets in real time Create neural models to forecast future trajectories and behavioral patterns of targets Implement intent inference models to identify actions and dynamically rank threat levels Integrate state estimation and prediction models into mission simulation environments and autonomy decision systems Collaborate with cross-functional teams including perception and on-board autonomy to ensure prediction fidelity, robustness, and scalability across missions Basic Qualifications
Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Aerospace, Robotics, Applied Mathematics, a related field, or equivalent experience 2+ years of distinguished industry experience in state estimation, aerospace, robotics, or a related field Strong proficiency in C++ and Python Demonstrated experience with probabilistic state estimation (Kalman filters, particle filters, Bayesian inference) Experience with deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) for sequence modeling (seq2seq, RNNs, LSTMs, Transformers) Familiarity with trajectory modeling, multi-body dynamics, or orbital mechanics Preferred Skills & Experience
Track record implementing state estimation pipelines in real-time or safety-critical systems Experience deploying sequence-to-sequence models for forecasting in dynamic environments Familiarity with sensor fusion techniques (e.g., combining radar, optical, and inertial data) Proficiency with GPU acceleration (CUDA, TensorRT) for neural network training and inference Experience with Linux, Git, and CI/CD pipelines Comfortable with containerization tools such as Docker and Kubernetes Familiarity with real-time systems, multi-threading, and performance optimization Strong understanding of networking and communication protocols for distributed autonomy systems Additional Requirements
Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to support critical project milestones and deadlines ITAR Requirements: 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. Learn more about the ITAR here. Compensation & Benefits
Pay Range: (E1) Junior Software Engineer: $120,000 - $140,000 / year; (E2) Software Engineer: $135,000 - $170,000 / year; (E3) Senior Software Engineer: Competitive Equity pool options Flexible PTO with generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave Comprehensive medical, dental & vision coverage 401(k) retirement plan with company match LA or San Francisco Lodestar is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Lodestar is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Software Engineer - Localization, State Estimation & Prediction at Lodestar Space About Lodestar
Lodestar's mission is to develop the first "Protect and Defend" capability for high-value space assets in orbit. Our flagship product MITHRIL is our hardware-agnostic, AI-enabled autonomy software suite that enables us to augment any off-the-shelf spacecraft with the ability to autonomously detect, characterise, and reversibly neutralise orbital threats. By building on the proven space heritage of our best-in-class satellite-bus partners and fully integrating MITHRIL into a single unified platform, we deliver an end-to-end, autonomous in-space bodyguarding service. What Youll Do
Design and implement Lodestars core state estimation and prediction architecture for autonomous spacecraft operations Research and implement novel estimation and prediction algorithms - everything from literature review, through training and tuning, to optimization and deployment Develop classical and neural estimators to track the current state and trajectory of multiple dynamic targets in real time Create neural models to forecast future trajectories and behavioral patterns of targets Implement intent inference models to identify actions and dynamically rank threat levels Integrate state estimation and prediction models into mission simulation environments and autonomy decision systems Collaborate with cross-functional teams including perception and on-board autonomy to ensure prediction fidelity, robustness, and scalability across missions Basic Qualifications
Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Aerospace, Robotics, Applied Mathematics, a related field, or equivalent experience 2+ years of distinguished industry experience in state estimation, aerospace, robotics, or a related field Strong proficiency in C++ and Python Demonstrated experience with probabilistic state estimation (Kalman filters, particle filters, Bayesian inference) Experience with deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) for sequence modeling (seq2seq, RNNs, LSTMs, Transformers) Familiarity with trajectory modeling, multi-body dynamics, or orbital mechanics Preferred Skills & Experience
Track record implementing state estimation pipelines in real-time or safety-critical systems Experience deploying sequence-to-sequence models for forecasting in dynamic environments Familiarity with sensor fusion techniques (e.g., combining radar, optical, and inertial data) Proficiency with GPU acceleration (CUDA, TensorRT) for neural network training and inference Experience with Linux, Git, and CI/CD pipelines Comfortable with containerization tools such as Docker and Kubernetes Familiarity with real-time systems, multi-threading, and performance optimization Strong understanding of networking and communication protocols for distributed autonomy systems Additional Requirements
Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to support critical project milestones and deadlines ITAR Requirements: 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. Learn more about the ITAR here. Compensation & Benefits
Pay Range: (E1) Junior Software Engineer: $120,000 - $140,000 / year; (E2) Software Engineer: $135,000 - $170,000 / year; (E3) Senior Software Engineer: Competitive Equity pool options Flexible PTO with generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave Comprehensive medical, dental & vision coverage 401(k) retirement plan with company match LA or San Francisco Lodestar is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Lodestar is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status. #J-18808-Ljbffr