Perception Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 2, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 13, 2026.
About the company
Our client is a defense and aerospace technology company.
The role
Raydar is recruiting for this role on behalf of our client. Build and deliver software that lets autonomous vehicles interpret their surroundings and understand their own motion. The role combines algorithm design, production C++ coding, analysis of field results and hands-on validation on hardware.
What you'll do
- Design algorithms that let a vehicle sense its environment, locate itself, follow moving objects and combine inputs from multiple sensors.
- Turn raw readings from cameras, radar and related devices into dependable estimates of vehicle state and the world around it.
- Write, test and tune production-grade C++ code for the perception pipeline.
- Study recorded field data and observed vehicle behavior to find the root causes of faults and strengthen reliability.
- Connect perception components to the wider autonomy software and verify them on actual vehicles.
- Help shape architectural and design choices for the perception system.
Requirements
What we're looking for
- 4 to 8 years of professional experience in robotics perception and estimation.
- A history of building sensing, localization or fusion systems for physical platforms such as autonomous vehicles, robots or aerospace systems.
- Hands-on C++ development skills.
- Solid command of robotics fundamentals and the underlying math and algorithms.
- Practical experience with live hardware: installing, configuring, calibrating, debugging and benchmarking sensors on real platforms.
- US Person status (US citizen or Green Card holder) with no need for visa sponsorship or transfer.
- Ability to work on-site 3 days per week.
Bonus points
- Master's or PhD degree.
- Background in probabilistic estimation methods such as Kalman filters, SLAM or visual odometry.
- Experience fielding autonomous systems in real-world operations.
Benefits
Compensation and benefits
- Base salary: USD 144,000 to 300,000 per year
- Equity
Location and work model
- San Francisco or Alameda, CA, United States
- Hybrid, 3 days per week in the office
- Full-time