Autonomy Engineer

About the role

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge.

For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles.

Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more.

We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.

About the Role

Apex is standing up a dedicated Autonomy team. Commissioning of a spacecraft has traditionally required an operator working a checklist and watching telemetry. This approach does not scale to a constellation of vehicles.

As an Autonomy Engineer, you will turn manual operations procedures into automated, testable software, own fault protection across every bus, and build the tooling that lets a small operations team fly a large fleet of vehicles.

You will help Apex work toward true onboard autonomy: vehicles that prioritize their own tasking, plan their own maintenance, and respond to their own environment instead of waiting for an operator to intervene.

Responsibilities

• Automate commissioning end-to-end - Sequence of Events as a loadable ground procedure that ties flight sequences to health verification, captures telemetry continuously, and produces reports as a byproduct of execution rather than a separate effort.
• Extend the same procedure tool set to Day-In-The-Life testing and automate ingestion of ground test data for comparison against on-orbit telemetry to catch anomalous behavior early.
• Own the design, test, and maintenance of Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery across all Apex satellite bus lines.
• Build on-orbit task and schedule generation tooling with Mission Operations, GNC, Thermal, Power, and Flight Software, structured so Autonomy owns the code and infrastructure across product-lines while Ops owns per-program configuration.
• Shadow operators through commissioning and anomaly response, automating manual tasking for future vehicles, and provide surge support on console.
• Drive long-term onboard autonomy: tasking prioritization and ad-hoc re-planning, station-keeping, and collision avoidance from maneuver generation through execution.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export-controlled data
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
• 3+ years of experience in spacecraft operations, flight software, or mission autonomy, including commissioning and anomaly resolution
• Experience designing or maintaining spacecraft fault protection
• Proficiency in Python and a compiled language such as C++ or Rust
• Proficiency with Lua, Tcl, TypeScript, or other scripting languages
• Experience with software integration, testing, and validation for real-time and distributed systems
• Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystems (GNC, Propulsion, Avionics, Thermal, Power, Communications)
• Willingness to support on-console operations outside normal business hours during commissioning and anomalies
• Strong communication, teamwork, and customer-facing abilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building ground software: procedure engines, command and telemetry systems, scheduling tools, or test automation frameworks
• Background in automated planning and scheduling, or autonomous maneuver planning
• Subsystem depth in GNC, Thermal, or Power sufficient to write and validate fault responses

#LI-HC1

What We Offer for Full-time Employees

• Shared upside: Receive equity in Apex, letting you benefit from the work you create
• Cash bonus eligibility: share in Apex’s success with eligibility for a performance-based cash bonus on top of your salary, rewarding the impact you make
• Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents, plus $100k life insurance at no cost
• Comprehensive PTO package: Starting at 15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually, plus 10 paid holidays
• Competitive 401(k) plan: Generous matching - 100% match on first 3%, 50% on next 2%
• 8 weeks paid parental leave: Plus childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel
• Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks: To keep you fueled throughout the day
• Vibrant community: Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings for you and your family
• Your dream desk setup: All the tools you need to be your most productive self
• World-class Playa Vista office: With the benefit of in-person collaboration with amazing coworkers and flexibility to integrate work and life
• Real impact opportunity: Work alongside experts from aerospace, new space, and other cutting-edge industries to make a lasting difference

Additional Information

Compensation ranges are set by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. A candidate's specific level and base pay are determined case by case and may vary with job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities, and internal equity. Beyond base salary, full-time hires are also eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options, along with medical, dental, and vision coverage and a 401(k) retirement plan.

Itar Requirements

Apex's work is governed by U.S. export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). To be eligible for this role, applicants must either (1) qualify as a U.S. Person, meaning a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), a refugee admitted under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or an individual granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or (2) be able to obtain the required export authorizations from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or another applicable U.S. government agency.