SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST

Psionic, Inc. is proud of our customer relationships, our diverse and dynamic work environment, and our employees’ career satisfaction. We are focused on LiDAR sensors for autonomous vehicles. We are building a culture of high performance that we think can change the world for the better. Headquartered in Hampton, Virginia, Psionic offers a competitive salary and attractive benefits package. Our website describes our corporate values and how they apply to the professional success and growth of our employees. We would like to add a motivated, fast-paced Senior Research Scientist with a diverse and solid background to our on-site team in Hampton, Virginia.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Senior Research Scientist to develop sensor fusion algorithms that leverage lidar for precision navigation of terrestrial, aerospace, and space vehicles. The successful candidate shall also provide system design and development leadership for pointing, stabilization, and control of our second generation lidar sensor.
Projects will include system and component design, modeling and experimentation to support flight system development. Work requires mechanical, opto-electronics and control theory knowledge, algorithm development, coding and a system generalist’s mind-set to rigorously capture the current system performance as well as potential and actual future improvements. Our successful candidate will support lab demonstrations, field tests, and prototype builds to be supplied to potential customers for testing in their systems.
The work involves analyzing, designing, simulating, fabricating, testing, and conducting performance validation and verification of electronic data processing, controls, and instrumentation systems. These will be used for detecting, recording, measuring, or controlling physical conditions, phenomena, and environments encountered in our navigation sensor development programs.

DESIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Maintain a broad knowledge of electronics, analog/digital design, and controls engineering.
• Senior-level SME (15-25 yrs experience).
• Experience working in teams to formulate, design, develop, modify, implement, calibrate, and field deploy difficult electronic measurement and instrumentation systems or other ground systems, or subsystems for laboratory, aero, or space flight systems.
• Experience with full life cycle development.
• Experience in the field of electro-optical stabilization, pointing and scanning systems.
• Ability to troubleshoot and diagnose issues that arise during testing.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

• MS degree or higher in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering is required
• Significant hands-on experience is required
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• An ability to learn new skills and adapt to new technologies
  Psionic, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This position requires access to export-controlled technology or software source code and the position is subject to U.S. export control laws

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AS AN ENGINEER

• Develop and test novel algorithms for guidance, navigation, and control leveraging lidar sensor measurement and support their real-time implementation and testing
• Serves as lead for our effort to identify, procure, test and evaluate these systems for multiple applications, from space RPO to collision avoidance for ships and ground vehicles to Counter UAS.
• Must have multidisciplinary experience and utilize industry standards for electronic systems simulation and incorporate these into custom models for Psionic components and systems
• Generate and review development and design approaches for adequacy, feasibility, cost, and conformance to overall goals and best engineering practices.
• Support for software and systems integration activities.
• Presents results at project reviews and technical conferences.
• Ensure assigned aerospace and/or ground support equipment meet project objectives and environmental conditions and are compatible with ground data acquisition and processing capabilities.
• Write and review technical goals and approaches, monitoring progress during development, design, and testing. Provide advanced technical assistance in development, design, and integration of technologies and systems.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS A TECHNICAL SPECIALIST

• Reviews and analyzes existing systems design in order to initiate redesign or modifications to improve operational effectiveness of hardware and software.
• Designs or directs the development of unique or leading-edge technology, hardware, equipment, or systems to meet specific mission requirements.
• Hands-on electronic circuit skills for troubleshooting and modifications are important.
• Works as part of engineering team efforts related to the study, development, and test of hardware, data system components, or equipment.
• Supports design, development and testing, including upgrades, parts reliability requirements, failure analysis/corrective action investigations, special lab tests, performance evaluations, and design audits of in-house and contracted projects and provides status to senior program management.
• Oversees the day-to-day development activities of the design team in support of the project manager’s work plan.
• Performs additional data systems and analysis work as required.