C++ Robotics/Autonomy Software Support Engineer - Clearance Eligible - San Diego

Are you ready to take the helm in shaping the future of tactical mission autonomy, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with trailblazers who are turning cutting-edge dreams into tangible reality? As a vital member of the growing EpiSci team, your influence will be immediate and transformative as we propel towards a future where security and autonomy unite in unprecedented ways.
EpiSci isn't just another company; we're a rapidly ascending force of innovation, forging ahead with next-gen tactical mission autonomy technologies that span defense, aerospace, 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 prowess is nothing short of extraordinary, offering robustness, dependability, and a rapid adaptability that thrives on the frontlines of emerging missions and obstacles. Picture developing AI aviators for cutting-edge aircraft like the F-22 and F-16, revolutionizing wireless tactical communication systems, and fueling the skies with swarms of autonomous UAVs supercharged by sensor fusion.
We understand and cherish the richness that diverse perspectives and backgrounds bring to the table. At EpiSci, we wholeheartedly invite every exceptional individual, regardless of their journey, to join our ranks and become a driving force behind the secure and autonomous world of tomorrow. Your future at EpiSci awaits—ignite your potential and let's redefine what's possible, together.
Don't meet every single requirement? At EpiSci, we're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workforce, so if you're excited about this role but your previous experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway! You may be the perfect candidate for this or another role at EpiSci.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of an awesome team of engineers to design, implement, and test software systems and interfaces in support of multi-domain (air and surface) autonomy.
• Contribute to a quickly growing multi-domain tactical autonomy group in support of the US Navy Warfighter.
• Regularly solve new and diverse problems as required to support the development of tactical autonomy, e.g., integrate autonomy solutions onto hardware platforms, interface sensors, and test and validate autonomous behaviors.
• Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, design/implementation/test of software within a component-based architecture, runtime inference of neural networks using multiple frameworks and compute devices, integration of externally-developed software capabilities into the autonomy solution, deployment of a containerized autonomy solution to embedded Linux devices, computer-in-the-loop testing and profiling, sensor interface, efficient in-situ data-collection.
• Support field testing and evaluation exercises several times a year with different USV and UAV platforms, where you get to validate the autonomous behaviors with a swarm of surface and aerial robots.
• Implement, leverage and improve state-of-the-art unmanned aerial system (UAS) multi-agent autonomy algorithms in C++ tactical military missions within the following paradigms:
• 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 (north east 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. Guidance, navigation, and controls (GNC).
• Build, leverage, and improve C++robotic autonomy software architectures that can be deployed on real systems to accomplish military missions (including publish/subscribe architectures).
• Design C++ autonomy tracking and fusion software in collaboration with autonomy engineers that supports full integration with aircraft autopilots, datalinks, sensors, PNT/GPS/INS, ground control stations, etc.
• Support live flight test of autonomy software on 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.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education Requirements:
• BS in Electrical, Robotic, Computer, or Software Engineering; Computer Science; or equivalent.
• 5+ years of relevant experience; or MS or PhD with relevant applied experience.
• Technical Requirements:
• Proficiency in Python.
• Strong Proficiency in in modern C/C++.
• Proficiency in CMake.
• Proficiency building Docker images and using Docker containers.
• Proficiency with Linux.
• 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, Nexus, SonarQube, Azure Container registry.
• Additional Requirements:
• Passion for solving complex problems with little supervision in a fast-moving team.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced, highly collaborative, frequently changing, and sometimes ambiguous environment.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and documentation skills with demonstrated ability to collaborate across multiple teams.
• Travel Requirements
• Must be willing to travel as projects requires. Estimated travel average is 25%. If you live in Sothern California, there will be less travel.
• Location Requirements
• This position requires that you be located within a drivable distance to Poway, CA, near San Diego. The position is still hybrid: expect 2-3 days a week to be in the office, 2-3 days a week at home.
• Security Requirements
• (MANDATORY) Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• (MANDATORY) Must be eligible for a U.S. SECRET security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education Requirements:
• MS or PhD degree in Robotic Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Optimization, or related engineering field.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience developing modern C++ tracking and fusion software for autonomous robotic systems.
• Technical Requirements:
• Experience with Valgrind or similar profiling/debugging tools.
• ROS and ROS2 experience (both in Python and C++) or similar frameworks.
• Relevant experience with embedded Linux devices.
• Proficiency with multithreaded C/C++ programs.
• 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.
• Python experience.
• Security Requirements
• (MANDATORY) Must be eligible for a U.S. SECRET security clearance.

EpiSci is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We value our differences and we’re excited to learn what you can add to our team.
Don't meet every single requirement? At EpiSci, we're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workforce, so if you're excited about this role but your previous experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway! You may be the perfect candidate for this or another role at EpiSci.