{"id":1643828,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ghost-robotics-robotic-software-engineer-senior-staff-or-lead-perception","title":"Robotic Software Engineer (Senior, Staff or Lead) (Perception)","company":{"id":48068,"name":"Ghost Robotics","domain":"ghostrobotics.io","url":"https://alion.io/company/ghost-robotics","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Paylocity","truth_index":null},"role":"Robotics","role_family":"Robotics","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Philadelphia, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":140000,"max":185000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":185000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":2,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Computer Vision","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"Perception","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"ROS","optional":false},{"name":"SLAM","optional":false},{"name":"Cartographer","optional":true},{"name":"CUDA","optional":true},{"name":"GTSAM","optional":true},{"name":"OpenCL","optional":true},{"name":"ORB-SLAM3","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-11T12:19:17Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-01","last_verified_at":"2026-10-21T15:17:07Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":40,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":40},"description":"Description\nAbout the role We're a robotics company building autonomous systems that operate in complex, dynamic environments. Our perception stack lets our robots understand, localize, and navigate the world in real time, and we care as much about robust, maintainable engineering as we do about raw algorithm performance.\nWe're hiring a Perception Engineer to design and build the SLAM, state estimation, and computer vision our robots rely on in the field. You'll take perception algorithms from research to reliable, production-ready software, working alongside our robotics, controls, and systems engineers.\nThis role is ideal for someone who enjoys bridging the gap between theory and deployment, turning academic algorithms into efficient, well-engineered systems.\nHow leveling works This is one role, open at the Senior, Staff, or Lead level. The responsibilities below reflect the core of the role at every level. You don't need to decide which level fits you before applying. The selected candidate will be placed at the level commensurate with the skills, scope, and experience they demonstrate through the interview process, and the offer will align with that level. Senior and Staff are individual-contributor positions. Lead carries the same technical scope plus people-leadership responsibilities, for candidates who want them.\nWhat you'll do (all levels)\nDesign and implement SLAM and localization systems (visual, visual-inertial, lidar, or multi-sensor) \nDevelop and integrate computer vision pipelines for feature extraction, tracking, mapping, and scene understanding \nImplement and optimize estimation algorithms (filtering and optimization-based methods) \nFuse data from cameras, IMUs, lidars, and depth sensors \nEvaluate perception performance using real-world data and metrics \nOptimize algorithms for real-time performance and robustness \nCollaborate with controls and planning teams to support downstream autonomy \nMaintain clean, well-tested, production-quality code \nContribute to tooling, datasets, and evaluation frameworks \nSenior Perception Engineer\nOwns a defined technical area of the perception stack and delivers independently end to end \nMentors less-experienced engineers \nTrack record of shipping perception software to real systems \nStaff Perception Engineer\nDrives technical direction and architecture across the team's area \nSets engineering standards and multiplies the output of others \nDemonstrated influence beyond their own deliverables, across teams or an entire perception stack \nLead Perception Engineer\nStaff-level technical scope plus people-leadership responsibilities: direct reports, hiring, performance, and team planning \nDemonstrated ability to grow engineers and run a healthy, productive team \nRequirements\nRequired qualifications (all levels)\nMaster’s degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, plus 2+ years of relevant work experience; OR a PhD in a related field. \nA strong background in robotics perception or computer vision, with hands-on experience implementing SLAM or localization in real systems. We weigh what you've built and shipped over where your degree is from. An advanced degree in Robotics, CS, EE, or a related field is one path in. Equivalent industry experience is another, and just as welcome. \nSolid understanding of 3D geometry and coordinate transformations, camera models and calibration, feature-based and/or direct visual methods, and probabilistic state estimation \nProficiency in C++ and/or Python \nExperience working in Linux environments \nFamiliarity with robotics software stacks such as ROS / ROS 2 \nStrong debugging and data analysis skills \nPreferred qualifications\nExperience with SLAM frameworks such as ORB-SLAM, VINS, Cartographer, or GTSAM \nLidar-based perception and mapping \nFamiliarity with deep learning perception models \nExperience deploying perception systems on real robots \nGPU acceleration (CUDA, OpenCL) \nDataset curation and annotation \nA graduate degree, or publications and research in robotics or computer vision \nWhat we offer\nWork on cutting-edge robotics perception problems with real-world constraints \nThe opportunity to own and evolve core autonomy components \nA collaborative, engineering-driven team culture \nAccess to real robots, real data, and real impact \nThe anticipated starting base salary for this position is $140,000 to $185,000 per year, placed by level as described above \nLocation\nPhiladelphia, PA. This is a full-time, on-site role. No remote candidates will be considered at this time.\nTravel\nNone required, though domestic and international opportunities exist for engineers who want field exposure.\nCompensation\nCompetitive base salary, full benefits, and a highly motivating equity incentive package. Flexible time off policy. We focus on output, impact, and the ability to work alongside a stellar interdisciplinary team.\nAdditional Information\nClear standard background checks are required pre-hire, post-hire, and at any time during employment. Permanent U.S. residency is required.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5068,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":2,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"master","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Flexible time off"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Robotic Software & Control Systems","Military"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-01T22:44:51Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"Filed H-1B visas in the last two years","filings_12m":0,"filings_prev_12m":2,"green_card_filings_12m":0,"median_offered_wage_usd":null,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-15T11:24:14+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":37,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.679,"p_room":0.55,"age_days":39,"expected_fill_days":33,"reasons":["conf:8","win:tail"],"computed_at":"2026-10-21T05:46:15Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":185000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ghost-robotics-robotic-software-engineer-senior-staff-or-lead-perception","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ghost-robotics-robotic-software-engineer-senior-staff-or-lead-perception.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-21T19:33:24Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":27751,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-22T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":48068},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=48068"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fghost-robotics-robotic-software-engineer-senior-staff-or-lead-perception"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fghost-robotics-robotic-software-engineer-senior-staff-or-lead-perception"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fghost-robotics-robotic-software-engineer-senior-staff-or-lead-perception"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/ghost-robotics-robotic-software-engineer-senior-staff-or-lead-perception\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fghost-robotics-robotic-software-engineer-senior-staff-or-lead-perception"}]}