Senior Motion Control Optimization Engineer
Albedo
Denver, CO, USA
Posted on Feb 24, 2025
Satellite imagery is a historically-scarce resource, whose adoption has been slowed by an unbalanced relationship between price and resolution. In theory, frequent, ultra-high-resolution imagery of Earth has near-infinite applications; in reality, only a sliver of that potential has been realized.
Albedo aims to be the catalyst in unlocking satellite imagery’s latent potential, hoping to expand current applications and propel the discovery of new use cases. Whether our imagery is being used to reduce wildfire risk, assess the environmental impact of global forestry, contribute to timely 3D reconstructions of urban areas, or monitor carbon emissions from industrial power plants, our mission is to get better data into the hands of decision-makers fast. We’re modernizing how satellite imagery is used by providing near real-time access to our ultra-high resolution data.
What We’re Up To: Albedo is developing a novel approach to the earth observation industry, both in space and with our business model. We are intentionally doing things differently by taking (calculated) risks, trying new things, and moving with speed. Our team believes satellite imagery is a valuable resource that should be made accessible, in every sense of the word. We are committed to our customers, ensuring that what we’re building is what they want. We are playing at the edges of how traditional New Space technologies have been approached, and we want to shake up the industry as it stands today.
Who We’re Looking For: Albedo is launching next-generation, ultra-high-resolution imaging satellites to service a global audience through a modern, cloud-based product interface. In order to achieve this goal, we are looking for a team of people who are both passionate about our mission and are willing to put in the work to design, develop, and test an innovative earth observation concept in the commercial industry. The times ahead will be set in a fast-paced, often uncertain environment, but if you are hard-working, kind, and team-oriented, you can expect a rewarding and purposeful experience.
You are a software engineer with a deep understanding of kinematics, optimization, and control and want to put your knowledge to practice by creating robust code for the exquisite Albedo imaging satellite constellation.
You will develop, test, and maintain software for optimization of spacecraft mission operations, including steering laws, mission planning optimization, constrained optimization, and optimal trajectory modeling during imaging events.
Your Ideal Skills and Experience:
- Experience with optimization-based solutions for guidance, navigation, and control
- Familiar with guidance, navigation, and control systems for spacecraft or aircraft (or similar)
- Familiar with quaternion kinematics
- Experience with Control Moment Gyro systems, including the principles of CMG steering and control laws
- Ability to develop robust, modular, maintainable, and testable code in modern languages (Python, C++, Julia, etc) either manually or via auto-coding tools
- Experienced in *one or more* of the following: Advanced techniques for accurate short-term orbit prediction and extrapolation, including propagation, fitting/splining, and smoothing
- Optimal motion/trajectory planning for autonomous systems
- Software framework for flight control: schedulers, hardware drivers, sensor or actuator processing, fault detection, and state machines for mode control
- Demonstrated knowledge of the tools and processes used in developing software for real-time, deterministic, embedded control systems
- Experience in maintaining and troubleshooting robotic systems, including mechanical, electrical, and software components
Desirable Skills or Experience:
- Experience with pointing architecture or algorithms used on a scanning imaging satellite
- Experience with tuning feed-back and feed-ahead control algorithms via Bode, Nichols, Quantitative-feedback Theory (QFT), root locus, or phase-plane or related techniques
- Ability to design and implement FIR, discrete-sample-time filters
- Familiar with optimal control, MIMO system analysis and state space synthesis techniques
- Familiar with advanced distribution laws or inverse kinematics models
Compensation and Benefits:
- Employee friendly equity compensation
- Asynchronous culture with flexible working hours
- 4% direct matching 401k
- Insurance: Medical, Vision, Dental, Mental Health
- Parental leave and childcare coverage
- Relocation bonus for moving to our Denver, CO HQ
- Flexible vacation from day one
- 10 company holidays and unlimited sick days
- $100 monthly wellness benefit
- Team retreats to build relationships in-person
Albedo does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to Albedo employees. Albedo is not responsible for any fees or overhead related to unsolicited resumes.
Additional Requirements: In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. All persons hired will be required to be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or 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.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled: Albedo is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Relocation: Relocation for this position is available
US CITIZENSHIP IS REQUIRED
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