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Lidar Entry Level Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

FieldAI

Sensor Systems Engineer-Federal

Irvine, CA

We are recruiting across a wide range of experience levels from entry level engineers to senior and staff engineers. * Hands-On Sensors Experience: Hands-on work with perception sensors such as LiDAR ...

FieldAI

Sensor Systems Engineer-Federal

Irvine, CA

$70K - $300K/yr

We are recruiting across a wide range of experience levels from entry level engineers to senior and staff engineers. * Hands-On Sensors Experience: Hands-on work with perception sensors such as LiDAR ...

FieldAI

Robotics QA / QC Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$30 - $45/hr

... entry-level candidates with relevant experience or projects) * Comfort working with physical ... Understanding of sensor systems (cameras, LiDAR, GPS, etc.) * Experience with structured test plans ...

FieldAI

Robotics QA / QC Engineer

Irvine, CA

$30 - $45/hr

... entry-level candidates with relevant experience or projects) * Comfort working with physical ... Understanding of sensor systems (cameras, LiDAR, GPS, etc.) * Experience with structured test plans ...

FieldAI

Robotics QA / QC Engineer

Irvine, CA

$30 - $45/hr

... entry-level candidates with relevant experience or projects) * Comfort working with physical ... Understanding of sensor systems (cameras, LiDAR, GPS, etc.) * Experience with structured test plans ...

All JobsLidar JobsLidar Entry Level JobsLidar Entry Level Jobs in California

Lidar Entry Level information

What is a LiDAR entry level job?

Lidar entry level jobs are positions for individuals starting out in the field of Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) technology. These roles typically involve tasks such as collecting and processing Lidar data, assisting with field surveys, and supporting senior technicians or engineers. Entry level employees may work for environmental consulting firms, mapping companies, or government agencies. A background in geography, engineering, or a related field, along with familiarity with GIS software, is often helpful for these positions.

What does a LiDAR entry level technician do?

As an entry-level LiDAR technician, you’ll typically support data collection in the field using specialized laser scanning equipment, assist with equipment setup and calibration, and help process the gathered data using industry software. Your work may involve traveling to various job sites, collaborating closely with surveyors, engineers, and GIS specialists, and troubleshooting technical issues as they arise. Over time, you’ll gain exposure to different project types, such as topographic surveys, infrastructure mapping, and environmental monitoring, which can help broaden your skills and prepare you for more advanced roles within the team.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a LiDAR entry level technician?

To thrive as an Entry Level Lidar Technician, you typically need a background in geomatics, geography, or a related field, with basic knowledge of surveying principles. Familiarity with Lidar data processing software (such as LAStools or ArcGIS), GPS equipment, and data collection systems is often required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are valuable soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure accurate data collection, efficient workflow, and reliable results in geospatial projects.

What is the difference between Lidar Entry Level vs Lidar Technician?

AspectLidar Entry LevelLidar Technician
Required CertificationsBasic knowledge of lidar systems, often no formal certification requiredCertifications like ASPRS or specific lidar training preferred
Work EnvironmentData collection, fieldwork, and basic data processingFieldwork, equipment maintenance, and advanced data analysis
Employer & Industry UsageEntry-level roles in surveying, mapping, and GIS companiesMore experienced roles in geospatial, engineering, and surveying firms

The main difference between Lidar Entry Level and Lidar Technician lies in experience and responsibilities. Entry level positions focus on basic data collection and learning, while technicians handle more complex data processing and equipment maintenance. Both roles are essential in geospatial projects, with the technician role requiring more specialized skills and certifications.

How to get a job in Lidar Entry Level?

To secure an entry-level Lidar position, candidates should develop skills in 3D mapping, data processing, and familiarity with Lidar sensors and software such as LiDAR360 or LAStools. Gaining relevant certifications, such as in GIS or remote sensing, and obtaining hands-on experience through internships or projects can improve job prospects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Lidar jobs in California?

The most popular types of Lidar jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Lidar Entry Level jobs in California?

For Lidar Entry Level jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Lidar Entry Level jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Lidar Entry Level jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Lidar Entry Level jobs?

Cities in California with the most Lidar Entry Level job openings:

Lidar Entry Level jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lidar Entry Level job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 2% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution.

Sr. Perception & Sensors Engineer, Robotics Hardware

FieldAI

Irvine, CA

$70K - $300K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 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, ROS, sensor drivers), 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.
 
Sensor Systems Role:
As a Sensor Systems Engineer on the Hardware Team, you will contribute to the design, integration, calibration, and validation of the sensing systems that underpin our autonomy stack. You will work with a diverse array of sensors—LiDARs, depth cameras, IMUs, GPS, and more—ensuring each one delivers accurate, time-synchronized, and spatially consistent data in a range of environments and operating conditions. You will collaborate closely with the autonomy, compute, electrical, and mechanical teams to build tightly integrated solutions ready for deployment in challenging field environments. Additionally, while your focus will be on sensors you will likely contribute across all hardware domains.
 
 
What You Will Get To Do
 
 
1. Sensor System Design
  • Sensor Architecture: Work across hardware and software teams to define sensing requirements. Identity, test, and select sensors such as LiDARs, depth cameras, GPS, IMUs, ToF, and other devices.
  • Systems Integration: Integrate sensors with electrical (USB, Ethernet, I2C, CAN, GMSL), mechanical (mounts, jigs, isolation), and software (configurations, drivers, ROS nodes) systems. Ensuring power, thermal, and protocol compatibility.
  • Spatial Performance: Architect system to meet spatial sampling performance requirements including spatial coverage, range, resolution, and transform accuracy.
  • Temporal Performance: Implement and validate synchronization strategies, triggering schemes, timestamp encoding, and end-to-end latency minimization.
 
2. Sensor System Implementation
  • Performance Characterization: Evaluate sensor performance (spatial resolution, temporal drift, EMI noise, sync errors etc.). Test under real-world environmental conditions (vibration, lighting, moisture, temperature).
  • Calibration: Design and execute both intrinsic and extrinsic calibrations. Build alignment rigs and calibration boards as needed.
  • Optimization: Tune sensor configurations (exposure, gain, filtering, frame rate, etc.) and processing pipeline (filtering etc.)  for optimal performance
  • Documentation: Create timing diagrams, sensor maps, coordinate transforms, and maintain all configuration files, launch scripts, driver references, and firmware states.
 
3. Sensor System Production & Servicing
  • Build: Work with vendors to procure sensors. Develop QA checks for incoming units. Support payload integration and manufacturing at scale.
  • Debug: Conduct root cause analysis of sensor systems including issues across hardware and software boundaries.
  • Monitor: Develop protocols for monitoring the sensing system health, data quality, and calibration status during field deployments.
 
What You Have
 
  • Education: B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Physics, 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.
  • Hands-On Sensors Experience: Hands-on work with perception sensors such as LiDAR, depth cameras, IMUs, GPS.
  • Systems Thinking: Cross-functional collaboration experience across electrical, mechanical, and software teams.
  • Sensor Physics: Strong foundation in optics, signal processing, and electromagnetic wave propagation.
  • Lab Skills: Hands-on testing, calibration, and debugging skills (oscilloscopes, logs, vibration/thermal setups)
  • Communication Protocols: Experience with protocols such as USB, Ethernet, GMSL, CAN, I2C, and CSI.
  • Computer & Software: Experience working with ROS/ROS2, sensor drivers, coordinate transforms (TF), and timing protocols (PTP, NTP, etc.).
  • Timing & Triggers: Experience with timestamping, synchronization, triggering, and latency constraints.
  • Calibration & Characterization: Experience designing and executing intrinsic, extrinsic, and temporal calibrations, along with sensor characterization under real-world environmental conditions.
  • Simulation: Experience high-fidelity simulation environments (Gazebo, Isaac Sim, RViz) for sensor modeling.
 
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 software, electrical, and mechanical systems.
  • Autonomy Software: Knowledge of autonomy stacks used in robotics. As well as how sensor performance impacts autonomy algorithms.
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.