About Vimotek
Space is on the path to industrialization and a new economy is emerging where resources and energy will be extracted, and both products and services will be produced for consumption either in space or on Earth. The first step in this development is for satellites to transition from being standalone passive nodes in an infrastructure to being robots that actively collaborate to solve more advanced tasks. Satellites will inspect and transport each other, refuel, clean up debris, perform repairs, and collaborate to construct larger structures like solar power plants for efficient production of large amounts of fossil-free energy.
Vimotek is a SpaceTech company in Luleå that develops technical solutions which are key components to enable the emerging industrialization of space. The company's first product is targeted at companies that are constructing new satellites to perform various types of advanced missions. The product—the Vimotek NavCam 1 Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) Kit—is a sensor package that gives satellites the ability to see and understand different objects in space, allowing them to approach and interact with them.
Vimotek’s solution
The Vimotek NavCam-1 RPO Kit is a subsystem for satellites—a plug-and-play product that will offer spacecraft manufacturers a scalable full solution for spacecraft vision and relative navigation, for use cases in the domains of Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO), On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM), In Space Operations and Services (ISOS), Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Asset Protection (SAP). The product combines three complementary vision sensors (visual camera, thermal camera, and LiDAR) with edge computing power and image processing software to provide actionable navigation data in real-time and ensure successful missions. All sensor systems and associated software are developed in-house by Vimotek.
Our unique approach to sensing and perception in space
The current way for spacecraft manufacturers and operators to gain RPO capability is to build a new technical solution for each satellite and mission, something that is both extremely expensive and does not work for all use cases due to the existing sensor technology not having the right performance.
Vimotek’s solution is to develop new high-performance sensors and package them together with intelligent software into a plug-and-play product that can be used by many different customers for many different satellites and cutting-edge use cases. This approach is not the usual way of doing things; Vimotek’s solution is unique in the world.
What have we achieved so far?
Vimotek’s first solution is still under development, but the company has already started to make its mark on the space industry. Most notably, in competition with some of the large market-leading companies, Vimotek’s consortium won the call from the European Defence Fund (EDF) to create a concept for how European satellites can defend themselves against man-made threats in space.
"Bodyguard aims to develop building blocks for autonomous space situational awareness capabilities onboard satellites to increase Europe's independence and superiority in space. The project emerges as a ground-breaking collaborative initiative aimed at elevating the on-board threat detection, assessment and monitoring, as well as protection and resilience capabilities of space assets against a diverse range of threats. In close proximity, it can detect weak points of the threat satellite and counteract with a robot or laser." – The European Commission
What’s the challenge?
We are looking for a person that can develop system solutions for space applications related to the Vimotek Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) Kit. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of space applications, exceptional communication and technical writing skills. In this role, you will be responsible for supporting space projects through use case analysis, requirements definition, scenario simulation, and testing, including environmental and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing. You will also work closely with customers to understand their missions, transfer requirements to the engineering team and ensure that the customers effectively use our products. This person will also continuously monitor space application advancements and incorporate new knowledge, technologies and best practices into Vimotek.
Skills & Requirements
Preferably 3 years’ experience of space system engineering, with a solid understanding of spacecraft, satellite systems, and mission operations. Ability to analyse use-cases, defining operational concepts (ConOps), and developing requirements for space applications.
Exceptional technical writing skills, capable of creating clear documentation for complex systems and software. ensuring they are easily understandable for internal teams and external stakeholders. o Good communication skills in order to collaborate with customers and multidisciplinary development teams, including hardware and software engineers, to integrate the product into space systems. o Python programming for simulations of mission scenarios in a digital twin environment to optimize system performance and validate system behaviour under various conditions.
Support testing efforts, including environmental testing and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing, to ensure the performance and reliability of space applications.
Need to be a team player and have the ability to work in a startup environment balancing high demands from customers with restricted budget and a small growing team.
Good to have would also be:
Experience in image and data processing, particularly related to satellite or space-based sensors. o Familiarity with Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) systems and their integration into space missions.
Exposure to rendezvous and proximity operations, including technologies and software supporting spacecraft rendezvous.
Experience in robotics, particularly with space-related or autonomous robotic systems.
The company’s primary language is English, proficiency in additional languages is a plus.
Location: Primarily on site in Luleå, but Stockholm or hybrid can be discussed
Join Vimotek and be part of an exciting journey as we develop cutting-edge products and contribute to industrialization of space.