Autonomy Engineer

About EpiSci

EpiSci is redefining tactical mission autonomy. These technologies span across defense and commercial domains. At our core, we wield the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, autonomy algorithms, wireless communications, and digital signal processing to surmount the most formidable national security challenges. Our tactical AI offers robustness, dependability, and a rapid adaptability that thrives on the frontlines of emerging missions and obstacles. Our AI increases human capability in aircraft like the F-22 and F-16; it’s revolutionizing wireless tactical communication systems and filling the skies with swarms of autonomous UAVs supercharged by sensor fusion.

About the role

At EpiSci, you will:

• Write software that operates real autonomous aircraft systems including F16 fighter jets, Group 1-5 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as simulated models to accomplish tactical military missions
• Implement, leverage and improve state-of-the-art unmanned aerial system (UAS) autonomy algorithms for the following autonomy categories to perform tactical military missions
• Autonomy loops such as: “Sense, Make Sense, Decide, Act (SMDA)”, “Observe, Orient, Decide, Act (OODA)” loops., “Perceive, Decide, Act’ (PDA)” loops
  • Sense: Environment sensing and modeling, computer vision, sensor processing, classification, anomaly detection
  • Make Sense: Environment mapping, data interpretation, 3D voxel grids, GeoGrids, WGS84, aerospace coordinate systems and reference frames (northeast down (NED), Geocentri & Geodetic latitudes, Earth-centered-inertial (ECI), earth centered earth fixed (ECEF)), no fly zones, keep-in/keep-out zones. Sensor fusion and target tracking, etc. Find, fix, track, target (F2T2)
  • Decide: State machines, behavior trees, optimization algorithms, constraint solving, classic algorithms (A*, RRT*, DFS, BFS, Branch & Bound, Random Forests), heuristics, optimization, Kalman filters, particle filters, etc. Artificial intelligence techniques such as deep reinforcement learning, reinforcement learning, machine learning, neural networks, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, generic algorithms, Bayesian networks, fuzzy logic, etc
  • Act: Autonomous 2D & 3D UAS trajectory/motion planning, route planning, SLAM. Classical controls systems, optimal control systems, adaptive control systems, model predictive control systems, especially for integration of 3rd party UAS autopilots, etc. Guidance, navigation, and controls (GNC)
• Build, leverage, and improve robotic autonomy software architectures that can be deployed on real systems to accomplish military missions
• Support live flight test of autonomy software on platforms such as F16s, and F16s, Group 1-5 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
• Collaborate with 3rd party UAS vehicle vendors on the integration of EpiSci autonomy software onto OEM UAS hardware
• Collaborate with domain experts and prior DoD warfighters (ex. DoD fighter pilots) to build software autonomy solutions for military missions

We're looking for someone who has:

• Master’s degree in computer science/related engineering field
• 6+ years of hands-on experience developing software for autonomous robotic systems
• Experience in developing software for autonomous robotic systems
• High proficiency in Python programming language
• Strong functional, procedural, data-oriented, and object-oriented programming experience employing clean code principles and good design patterns/principles
• Ability to use data visualization and debugging tools to support autonomous agent development
• Experience developing in Docker and containerized development environments, and using Linux-based operating systems (e.g., RHEL, Ubuntu)
• Experience using git, Visual Studio Code, GitLab and artifact registries such as Artifactory

Travel Requirements:

• Must be willing to travel as projects requires; estimated average travel is once every other month for between 2 days up to 1 week. (~20%)

Security Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must hold or be eligible for a U.S. Secret security clearance with Special Access Program (SAP) 

Nice to have:

• Master’s degree in computer science/related engineering field
• 9+ years of experience developing software for autonomous robotic systems
• Proficiency in the Rust and C++ (version 17 and later) programming languages
• Experience working with defense modeling and simulation tools such as AFSIM and NGTS
• Experience working with mission system architecture frameworks such as OMS UCI
• Experience working with robotics architectures such as ROS
• Familiarity with software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) development and testing
• Experience working projects related to national security for one or more government agencies
• Interdisciplinary background, with evidence of continual learning

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Please reference the job posting’s subtitle for where this position will be located. For pay transparency purposes, the base salary range for this full-time position in the location listed is: $120,000 to $180,000 USD annually.