About this role
As a Senior Optical Navigation Engineer at Impulse Space, you will own the onboard optical navigation algorithms and software for our lunar lander across all phases of development and operation, while working in a fast-paced, agile team. You will design, implement, and validate the navigation filters and sensor-fusion techniques that land our spacecraft on the moon, as well as provide inputs on the hardware and embedded-system design. Design, develop, and tune navigation algorithms for low-lunar-orbit (LLO) navigation, descent, and landing Provide inputs for the camera system that provides imagery to the terrain-relative navigation system Implement the terrain-relative navigation algorithms and software, performing crater detection/matching and image comparison for odometry Perform spacecraft navigation analyses: orbit determination, attitude determination, covariance analysis, and navigation error budgets Develop and validate simulated sensor and measurement models in Impulse’s 6DOF simulation environment Implement navigation algorithms in flight code (C++) and support SIL/HIL integration and test Perform Monte Carlo analysis to characterize navigation performance under dispersed and off-nominal conditions Generate navigation verification data for Impulse's lunar missions Support navigation operations: real-time orbit determination, console support, and anomaly response during critical mission phases Communicate navigation design needs, intent, performance, trades, and risk to the broader engineering team