Perception & Fusion Engineer

About the role

This role involves creating, integrating, and maintaining real-time sensor software for various autonomous vehicles across different environments like land, air, sea, and space. You will contribute to enhancing system capabilities and demonstrating solutions to clients in practical scenarios using diverse platforms and sensors. Your primary focus will be designing and rapidly integrating sensor fusion algorithms to connect different platforms, incorporate mission data, and support autonomy objectives.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Develop and adapt AI/ML algorithms for perception autonomy to gather information from various platform sensors.
• Create software interfaces for autonomous control of sensors such as EO, IR, acoustics, radar, and RF.
• Collaborate with sensor, tracking, and autonomy teams for smooth deployment of heterogeneous platform swarms during on-site DoD testing.
• Deploy containerized solutions to embedded Linux devices, using computer-in-the-loop testing and performance data collection.
• Engage with DoD clients to understand their needs, requirements, and troubleshoot issues during field events.
• Work with the team to address technical problems and define scope internally.
• Document ongoing work and communicate progress to ensure internal flexibility and clarity for external customers.
• Drive the use of simulation tools for sensor, platform, and autonomy playback in post-processing field test analysis.
• Implement improvements for future integration based on simulation analysis and customer feedback.

Requirements

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotic Engineering, Computer Science, Optimization, or equivalent, OR 5+ years of experience with sensor algorithms, hardware, and HIL software integration.
• Experience with multiple sensor types (e.g., EO, IR, lidar, radar, sonar, acoustics).
• Fundamental understanding of sensor physics and control parameters.
• Experience training and deploying ML algorithms (Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow) onto integrated systems (ONNX, C++ models).
• Experience with advanced estimation, tracking, and fusion algorithms.
• Comfortable working in Linux and Docker.
• Previous experience with remote software development, handling large datasets, and learning new software and algorithms independently.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must hold or be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Nice to have

• Proficiency with modern C++ development (2011, 2017, 2020, smart pointers), CMake, Python, and Bash.
• PhD in computer science or electrical engineering with an AI/ML focus.
• Experience with robotic swarm or multi-agent systems and optimization.
• Strong background in tracking and sensor fusion.
• Current U.S. SECRET security clearance.

Skills & tools

• Python
• PyTorch
• TensorFlow
• ONNX
• C++
• Linux
• Docker
• CMake
• Bash

Practical notes

• Travel is required for projects, typically for software/hardware integration or demonstrations. Expect travel every 1-2 months for 2-5 days (10-20% of time).
• Candidates who prefer not to travel are encouraged to ask about relocation assistance to the Poway, CA headquarters.
• Compensation includes base salary, equity, and benefits such as health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, 401k with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Benefits may vary.