Autonomy / GNC Engineer

Job Description: Orpheus Ocean is seeking a full-time Autonomy/GNC (Guidance, Navigation, & Control) Engineer with a strong foundation in autonomous robotics, geodetic navigation, sensor-fusion, and software design & development to help lead development of our foundational autonomy stack. As part of our core engineering team, you will help advance the deep-ocean exploration capabilities of our autonomous platforms, supporting environmental monitoring and surveying for rapidly expanding sectors of the blue economy - including offshore wind, seabed minerals, and critical subsea infrastructure.

This is a hands-on engineering role with high impact on both our R&D and field deployment programs. You will collaborate closely with hardware, electrical, and mission operations teams to integrate your solutions into real-world missions. This role is ideal for someone who takes pride in clean codebases, robust tooling, and high-quality software infrastructure.

This role is in-person, in southern Massachusetts, with some flexibility for occasional work from home. Applicants should plan on 2-3 months of travel during the first year, possibly for at-sea deployments for several weeks at a time.

Company Description: Orpheus Ocean is revolutionizing exploration of Earth's final frontier. We are a venture-backed, Massachusetts-based startup that is designing, building and operating novel autonomous systems for ultra-scalable ocean access, to unlock the future of the blue economy. Our flagship Orpheus AUV is the first to enable autonomous interaction with the seafloor and exploration of deep ocean environments. Learn more at

Duties/Responsibilities: As an Autonomy Engineer at Orpheus Ocean, you will work closely with a multidisciplinary team to design and deliver robust autonomy and navigation systems for our AUVs and supporting infrastructure. Responsibilities include:

- Design and develop sensor fusion, control and navigation algorithms for closed-loop odometry in both GPS-denied and GPS-aided environments, including integration with USBL beacons and geodetic error correction.

- Design and implement autonomous behaviors that utilize multiple sensor configurations for deep ocean exploration and interaction, including error handling, health monitoring, and fail-safes.

- Develop and manage the existing autonomy stack including the ROS/ROS2 packages in C++ and Python.

- Design and implementation of autonomous state machine for decision-making and reliability.

- Develop and conduct testing in containerized simulation environments to evaluate autonomous behaviors before field testing.

- Develop and improve mission planning workflows and collaborate with operations team to execute in-field missions.

- Design and own methods for storing, handling, processing, visualizing and delivering data products to customers.

- Structure and maintain modular, well-documented repositories using GitHub.

- Implement and maintain unit tests and CI/CD pipelines to ensure software reliability.

- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including electrical, embedded systems, and mechanical engineering to ensure software integrates smoothly with hardware systems.

- Participation in frequent near-shore field small boat testing (day trips or shorter duration)

- Participate in offshore field work (either remotely or on-vessel, 1-3 week duration)

This role offers significant ownership, hands-on work, and direct impact on next-generation ocean robotics.

About You: You are a self-motivated engineer who thrives in fast-paced, hardware-driven environments and enjoys tackling hard technical challenges. With appropriate guidance, you can independently take assignments from concept to finished product with rigor and creativity. You are driven to do whatever it takes to get the job done, wearing numerous hats across responsibilities and disciplines, while enthusiastically learning outside of your existing skillset and experiences. You are capable of working across software design, testing, and deployment phases. You communicate clearly, collaborate well as a part of an interdisciplinary team, and are energized by building real systems that operate in the ocean.

As a pivotal member of our early-stage team, you must be enthusiastic and prepared to overcome the challenges associated with a growing seed-stage startup, and do so with respect, responsibility, and resilience. You must be adaptive and continually in pursuit of self/team-improvement in a workplace culture that expects all team members to both positively solicit and provide frequent constructive feedback to/from all colleagues, supervisor, and executives.

Minimum Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering or a related field.

- Strong proficiency in C++, Python, and ROS/ROS2

- Strong experience with sensor fusion, geodetic navigation, dead reckoning, INS integration, and control algorithms such as Extended-kalman filters, PID controllers, etc

- Strong experience in path planning and dynamic track and error correction in real time.

- Familiarity with different autonomous underwater vehicle robotics sensors; GPS, IMUs, Altimeters, DVLs, Cameras, etc

- Familiarity with developing and running software in containerized environments such as Docker

- Good understanding of TCP/IP networking protocols, network interfaces, and troubleshooting network issues

- Experience with repository management and workflows in GitHub/GitLab as well as writing and executing unit and integration tests.

- Comfortable communicating across disciplines to align on integration requirements and system-level goals

- Experience deploying robotic systems in a field environment

- Authorization to work in the US and travel internationally.

Desired Qualifications:

- Experience with operations in at-sea field environments

- Familiarity with Serial and CAN protocols

- Familiarity with subsea acoustic navigation and tracking systems, Sonars, USBL, or LBL

- Familiarity with perception based autonomy, computer vision, photogrammetry, or visual and inertial odometry

Physical Requirements: Physical duties for this position include but are not limited to, ability to infrequently lift and carry 50 lbs or less independently, multiple times per day. Visual abilities to include near, far, peripheral, depth perception, and ability to distinguish basic colors. Hearing requirements include the ability to hear and respond to instructions, communicate effectively in loud areas (pier/dock, warehouse). Other physical tasks include occasional prolonged standing/walking; use of hands for basic /fine grasping and manipulation, repetitive motion, reaching above and below the shoulders, pushing, pulling, kneeling, bending, twisting, and stooping. Other occupational requirements include talking, traveling, working around others, and with others. Will be exposed to dust or other irritants and electrical/mechanical/power equipment hazards. Physical duties are subject to change.

Sea Duty: This is a sea-going position requiring up to 3 months per year (no more than one month continuously) aboard recreational, research, and commercial vessels locally or abroad with bonus sea-leave (PTO) accrued for days spent at sea at the rate defined by company policy.

Location: On-site, Southern Massachusetts, with flexible but limited work-from-home days on an as needed basis.

Employment Type: Full-time exempt (salaried); expectation is 40 hours per week minimum and occasionally more as needed to meet critical deadlines with infrequent possibility for weekend work, off-hour work, and/or sea duty.

Orpheus Ocean is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $120,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year

Benefits:

- 401(k)

- Dental insurance

- Flexible schedule

- Health insurance

- Paid time off

- Relocation assistance

- Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

- What's your favorite body of water?

- Are you willing and able to go to sea?

Work Location: In person