Robotics Autonomy Engineer, Perception

About the role

Field AI is transforming how robots interact with the real world by building risk‑aware, reliable, and field‑ready AI systems that address the toughest challenges in robotics. The company’s Field Foundational Models™ set a new standard in perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, ensuring explainable and safe deployment. With a decade‑long track record of field‑deployed solutions, DARPA challenge segment wins, and expertise from organizations such as DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise Self‑Driving, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, Field AI is advancing the next robotics revolution. As a Robotics Autonomy Engineer – Perception, you will own and advance perception capabilities for federal autonomy programs, leading the perception stack for robots operating in unstructured terrains, integrating LiDAR, RADAR, multispectral and other sensors, and deploying perception software on real robots.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain perception systems: design, implement, and maintain perception for autonomous robots; develop robust localization and mapping; continuously evaluate and improve performance through testing, iteration, and field validation.
• Develop and integrate sensor‑based perception: implement algorithms that fuse data from LiDAR, cameras, RADAR, inertial sensors; support integration of new sensing modalities; ensure reliable operation across simulation and real‑world deployments.
• Deploy perception software on real robots: bring algorithms from development to physical systems; debug issues discovered during on‑robot testing and field operations; collaborate with autonomy, controls, and platform teams.
• Improve system robustness and scalability: contribute to code quality, testing, and long‑term maintainability; develop tools, metrics, and tests to monitor performance and catch regressions; help scale perception solutions across robots, environments, and missions.
• Collaborate across teams: work with engineers, researchers, and operators to define perception requirements; communicate technical designs, tradeoffs, and results to technical and non‑technical stakeholders; support field operations and customer demonstrations.

Requirements

• PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field; or MS with 2+ years industry/applied research; or BS with 4+ years relevant experience.
• Strong background in robot perception, localization, and mapping (SLAM) for real‑world robotic systems.
• Hands‑on experience developing and deploying perception software in field robotics environments (not just simulation).
• Proficiency in modern robotics software development (C++, Python) and ROS/ROS2 based systems.
• Experience with robot perception and state estimation (VIO, LIO, mapping, sensor fusion, etc.).
• Ability to take ownership of complex subsystems from design through field deployment and long‑term maintenance.
• Comfort working close to hardware, including debugging sensor data, calibration, and real‑world failures.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to operate independently in fast‑moving, small teams.

Skills

• Experience with thermal, LWIR, or multispectral passive sensing for robotic perception.
• Experience integrating and calibrating custom sensor rigs (e.g., stereo