Staff Software Engineer, Perception

About UsAt Saildrone, we sustainably explore, map, and monitor the oceans to understand, protect, and preserve our world. We provide real-time access to critical data from any ocean on earth, 24/7/365, and use proprietary software applications to transform that data into actionable insights and intelligence. Our fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), powered by renewable wind and solar power, have a minimal carbon footprint and operate without the need for a crewed support vessel.Saildrone works with governments, civil agencies, foundations, universities, and private companies around the globe to drive better information about our oceans and seas—from sailing into the eye of a category 4 hurricane to obtain new data about how storms intensify, collecting new CO2 data in hard-to-reach areas, and counting fish biomass to inform sustainable fishery management, to mapping the ocean floor and reducing illegal fishing and drug trafficking. As a result of our work, we have been included on TIME's List of the 100 Most Influential Companies in 2024, Fast Company’s list of the "World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2022," and earned the Ocean Awards’ Innovation Award, presented by the Blue Marine Foundation.The RoleSaildrone uses an onboard perception system for ocean monitoring and navigational safety. We’re looking for a top-notch Staff Perception Engineer to help drive projects within the Perception Team taking on unique challenges.As a Staff Perception Engineer at Saildrone, you will bring technical expertise and serve as a key technical leader within the Perception Team. You will be responsible for guiding cross-functional project teams through complex challenges, making critical technical decisions, and ensuring that the team's output meets Saildrone's rigorous quality and performance standards. Your role will involve mentoring junior engineers, facilitating knowledge sharing, and leading by example in writing efficient, high-quality code.ResponsibilitiesLead technical initiatives within the Perception Team to improve performance and add new functionality for individual sensors and the algorithms that fuse that data together.Work cross-functionally with product managers, technical leads and system engineers to make critical decisions and ensure designs will meet overall system requirements.Design, develop and evaluate perception and tracking algorithms to fuse data from cameras, radars, hydrophones and other sensors.Write efficient, well-tested C++ code to run on real-time operations systems.Work with cross-functional teams to ensure valid integration of sensor hardware into our perception systems.Work with machine learning engineers to ensure integration and end-to-end system performance is optimized on-board.Design, develop and maintain large-scale perception regression tests and replay scenarios to aid rapid software development and evaluate and track performance.Productionize and harden algorithms for real-world applications.Work with platform and UI engineers to ensure display of useful sensor information to users for near real-time perception around the vessels as well as intelligent navigation.Lead initiatives and meetings within the team and functional area.Motivate and empower teammates to achieve a higher level of performance.Identify and propose strategies around technical problems affecting the team while communicating standards and getting buy-in on solutions.Required Skills and Experience8+ years professional experience in a relevant domain, with prior experience tech leading projects. An advanced degree can substitute for experience.5+ years of professional experience writing production grade software.BS or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or related field.5+ years experience with C++. This is our main coding language in these systems.Understanding and familiarity with perception systems and algorithms.Experience with robotics middleware such as ROS, ZMQ, gRPC.Familiarity with machine learning algorithms.Familiarity with GPU accelerated algorithm development.Familiarity with signal processing algorithms.A desire to solve challenging robotics problems.Excellent communication and leadership skills.Experience with mentorship.Desired Skills and ExperienceHands-on experience with computer vision systems, online state estimation, sensor fusion and machine learning.Experience with perception sensing technologies like radar, camera, acoustics, etc.Experience with tracking and filtering algorithms, such as Particle and Kalman filters.Experience Python and SQL.Experience with deployment to Nvidia chipsets for robotics, such as the AGX.Experience working in robotics or autonomous vehicle industries.Location : This position is hybrid in Alameda, CA (Onsite 3 days per week required).Benefits :Medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents.Short and relaxing ferry ride from the Ferry Building for SF residents.Enhanced Parental Leave Programs.Competitive benefits including excellent medical, life insurance, 401k plan.A reasonable estimate of the current range is $149,400-$198,000 annually.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company.

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