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Entry Level Perception Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts

Entry Level Perception Engineer information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Perception Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Perception Engineer, you need a solid background in computer vision, robotics, or machine learning, typically supported by a degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with programming languages like Python or C++, as well as experience with frameworks such as OpenCV, ROS, or TensorFlow, is commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork skills help you stand out in this role. These skills and qualities are essential for developing reliable perception systems that enable safe and efficient autonomous or robotic operations.

What is the difference between Entry Level Perception Engineer vs Entry Level Computer Vision Engineer?

AspectEntry Level Perception EngineerEntry Level Computer Vision Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS, EE, or related field; knowledge of perception algorithmsBachelor's in CS, EE, or related field; familiarity with image processing
Work EnvironmentAutonomous vehicles, robotics, or AI companiesImage analysis, robotics, or AI research labs
Industry UsageAutomotive, robotics, AI startupsTech companies, research institutions, automotive

Both roles focus on perception and require similar educational backgrounds, but perception engineers often work on sensor data integration, while computer vision engineers focus on image and video analysis. The perception engineer role emphasizes sensor fusion and environment understanding, whereas computer vision emphasizes image processing techniques. Both are vital in AI-driven industries, with overlapping skills but different application focuses.

What does an Entry Level Perception Engineer do?

An Entry Level Perception Engineer typically works on developing and improving systems that enable machines—such as self-driving cars or robots—to understand and interpret their surroundings using sensors like cameras, lidar, and radar. They implement algorithms to process sensor data and help the system detect, classify, and track objects in real time. This role often involves programming, testing, and collaborating with other engineering teams to integrate perception capabilities into larger systems. Entry-level engineers usually work under the supervision of more experienced engineers while gaining practical experience in computer vision and machine learning.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level perception engineers when working on autonomous vehicle projects?

As an entry level perception engineer in the autonomous vehicle industry, you may encounter challenges such as fine-tuning machine learning models to accurately detect and classify objects in diverse environments. Adapting to rapidly evolving sensor technologies and integrating data from multiple sources, like LiDAR and cameras, can also be complex. Additionally, working closely with cross-functional teams—including software developers and hardware engineers—requires strong communication and collaboration skills to ensure seamless integration and system performance.
What are the most commonly searched types of Perception Engineer jobs in Massachusetts? The most popular types of Perception Engineer jobs in Massachusetts are:
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What job categories do people searching Entry Level Perception Engineer jobs in Massachusetts look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Perception Engineer jobs in Massachusetts are:

Electrical Engineer, Robotics Hardware

FieldAI

Boston, MA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago


Job description

Field AI is transforming how robots interact with the real world. We are building risk-aware, reliable, and field-ready AI systems that address the most complex challenges in robotics, unlocking the full potential of embodied intelligence. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-based architectures, and are charting a new course, with already-globally-deployed solutions delivering real-world results and rapidly improving models through real-field applications.

Hardware Team:
The Hardware Team at Field AI develops perception and compute payloads that power autonomous robotics systems in complex real world environments. Our work spans the full hardware stack designing and integrating sensing systems (LiDAR, camera, TOF, IMU, GPS), embedded compute (CPUs, GPUs, microcontrollers, Linux, ROS), electrical systems (power distribution, communication), and mechanical components (structures, thermal regulation, ingress protection). The team focuses on both development (research, design, prototyping, testing) and operations (production, testing, QA, debugging). We’re a small, fast-moving team, and we care deeply about improving: 1) core capabilities, 2) system reliability, 3) system scalability. As a growing team we are also building operational systems and procedures from the ground up.
 
Electrical Systems Role:
As an Electrical Engineer on the Hardware Team at Field AI, you will contribute to the design and implementation of electrical systems that enable power and communications across the sense and compute packages. Your work will span across power systems, wire harnesses, PCB design, and communications networks with the goal of ensuring our systems are electrically robust, safe, and scalable. Responsibilities may span the full lifecycle from electrical CAD through production to field support. You will collaborate closely with the mechanical, sensor, and compute teams to build tightly integrated solutions ready for deployment in challenging field environments. Additionally, while your focus will be on electrical systems you will likely contribute across all hardware domains.
 
What You Will Get To Do
 
1. Electrical System Design
  • Power Architecture: Design regulated power systems including voltage rails, DC/DC converters, switches, fuses, and grounding schemes.
  • Wire Harness Design: Design and document robust wire harnesses for power and data lines, including shielding, strain relief, and standard connectors.
  • PCB Design: Create PCBs for power distribution, protocol bridging, and embedded control.
  • Networking & Communication: Architect wired and wireless communication systems (Ethernet, USB, CAN, I2C, WiFi, 5G).
  • Budgets & Tolerances: Maintain system-level power and bandwidth budgets. Ensure electrical tolerance to noise, EMI, and vibration.
 
2. Electrical System Implementation
  • CAD & Schematics: Create PCB schematics, harness diagrams, pinouts, and complete PCB BOMs using tools like KiCAD or Altium.
  • Calculations: Conduct electrical calculations including current draw, peak power, signal integrity, and fault analysis.
  • Design for Field Conditions: Engineer for EMI/EMC robustness, thermal resilience, and fault isolation under field operating conditions.
  • Testing: Conduct power validation (noise, load, transients), communication tests (bandwidth, latency), and EMI evaluation.
  • Integration: Collaborate with sensor, compute, and mechanical teams to ensure end-to-end system compatibility and robustness.
  • Documentation & Budgets: Maintain PCB schematics and systems level wiring diagrams. Manage system-level power and data bandwidth budgets.
 
3. Electrical System Production & Servicing
  • Build: Work with vendors and contract manufacturers to procure PCBs and harnesses. Develop QA checks for incoming units.
  • Debug: Investigate system faults using logs, oscilloscopes, analyzers, and power monitors.
  • Support: Provide hands-on support during integration, deployment, and servicing in the field.
 
What You Have
 
  • Education: B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
  • Experience Level: We are recruiting across a wide range of experience levels from entry level engineers to senior and staff engineers.
  • Power Systems: Experience designing and testing low-voltage regulated power systems.
  • Harnessing: Hands-on design and integration of custom wire harnesses for robotics or automotive-style systems.
  • PCB Design: Proficiency in PCB schematic and layout using KiCAD, Altium, or equivalent tools.
  • Communication Protocols: Familiarity with USB, Ethernet, CAN, I2C, GMSL, and wireless technologies.
  • Testing & Debugging: Skills using electrical test tools including oscilloscopes, power analyzers, and EMI/EMC setups.
  • Documentation: Ability to produce detailed electrical documentation for design, manufacturing, and servicing.
  • Systems Thinking: Experience working across mechanical, compute, and autonomy teams to deliver robust integrated systems.
  • Cross Functional Robotic Skills: Ability to contribute electrical, sensing, and embedded computing work to deliver robust integrated systems.
 
What Will Set You Apart
 
  • Scaling: Experience taking systems from prototype to large scale production.
  • Field Environments: Experience developing systems for harsh field environments.
  • Deployed Robotics: Experience working on robotics deployed in real world settings such as autonomous vehicles, drones, or ruggedized robots.
  • Systems Level Robotics: Fluency across electrical, mechanical, and software systems.
  • Reliability Engineering: Background in fault protection, EMI/EMC compliance, and safety-critical design.
Compensation and Benefits
Our salary range is between ($70,000 - $300,000 annual), but we take into consideration an individual's background and experience in determining final salary; base pay offered may vary considerably depending on geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.  Also, while we enjoy being together on-site, we are open to exploring a hybrid or remote option.

Why Join Field AI?
We are solving one of the world’s most complex challenges: deploying robots in unstructured, previously unknown environments. Our Field Foundational Models™ set a new standard in perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, ensuring our approach is explainable and safe for deployment.

You will have the opportunity to work with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. With a decade-long track record of deploying solutions in the field, winning DARPA challenge segments, and bringing expertise from organizations like DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise Self-Driving, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, we are set to achieve our ambitious goals.

Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution
To tackle such ambitious challenges, we need a team as unique as our vision — innovators who go beyond conventional methods and are eager to tackle tough, uncharted questions. We’re seeking individuals who challenge the status quo, dive into uncharted territory, and bring interdisciplinary expertise. Our team requires not only top AI talent but also exceptional software developers, engineers, product designers, field deployment experts, and communicators.

We are headquartered in always-sunny Irvine, Southern California and have US based and global teammates. 

Join us, shape the future, and be part of a fun, close-knit team on an exciting journey!



We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.