Senior Perception Engineer, Spacecraft Vision and Relative Navigation

Job overview

The Senior Perception Engineer, Spacecraft Vision and Relative Navigation role is onsite in Golden, CO, with compensation of $145,000–$190,000 per year plus equity. The seed-stage space company is developing modular spacecraft that assemble themselves in orbit. The engineer leads the relative navigation system that enables autonomous spacecraft to detect, track, and dock with one another. The role develops and verifies the vision pipeline, sensor fusion, and state estimation from prototypes through flight, supporting the company’s move toward operational systems.

What you'll do

• Lead relative navigation for proximity operations and docking
• develop target detection, camera calibration, pose estimation, and outlier rejection
• design and verify relative-state filters and sensor models
• set navigation accuracy and interface requirements
• build calibration and test tools
• conduct hardware-in-the-loop testing
• write onboard C++ and supporting Python tools
• support flight operations and anomaly investigations.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

senior perception engineer

spacecraft vision

relative navigation

golden co

$145k–$190k/year

equity

autonomous spacecraft

computer vision

sensor fusion

pose estimation

c++

python

flight software

onsite

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Benefits & perks

• Early equity through stock options
• medical, dental, and vision coverage
• short- and long-term disability and life insurance
• paid parental leave
• three weeks of paid vacation and 10+ paid holidays.

Why this role

Requires a relevant bachelor’s degree, hands-on camera-based pose estimation or sensor fusion on fielded robotic or space hardware, and professional C++ and Python development experience. Must meet U.S. Person or export authorization eligibility.

About the employer

Approach Venture is hiring for this role. Industry: Engineering Services. Sector: 54.