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Perception Algorithm Engineer Jobs in San Francisco, CA

Zoox

Director, Perception

Foster City, CA · On-site

$391K - $470K/yr

Our growing software engineering leadership team is searching for a Director of Perception. Our ... Our algorithms are relentlessly optimized and tuned to run efficiently and effectively on a wide ...

Zoox

Director, Perception

Foster City, CA · On-site

$391K - $470K/yr

Our growing software engineering leadership team is searching for a Director of Perception. Our ... Our algorithms are relentlessly optimized and tuned to run efficiently and effectively on a wide ...

Zoox

Senior Manager, Perception

Foster City, CA · On-site

$277K - $389K/yr

Our growing software engineering leadership team is searching for a Senior Manager of Perception ... Our algorithms are relentlessly optimized and tuned to run efficiently and effectively on a wide ...

Zoox

Director, Perception

Foster City, CA

$391K - $470K/yr

Our growing software engineering leadership team is searching for a Director of Perception. Our ... Our algorithms are relentlessly optimized and tuned to run efficiently and effectively on a wide ...

Zoox

Senior Manager, Perception

Foster City, CA

$277K - $389K/yr

Our growing software engineering leadership team is searching for a Senior Manager of Perception ... Our algorithms are relentlessly optimized and tuned to run efficiently and effectively on a wide ...

Zoox

Senior Manager, Perception

Foster City, CA

$277K - $389K/yr

Our growing software engineering leadership team is searching for a Senior Manager of Perception ... Our algorithms are relentlessly optimized and tuned to run efficiently and effectively on a wide ...

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All JobsPerception Algorithm Engineer JobsPerception Algorithm Engineer Jobs in San Francisco, CA

Perception Algorithm Engineer information

See San Francisco, CA salary details

$70.1K

$131.5K

$239.2K

How much do perception algorithm engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for perception algorithm engineer in San Francisco, CA is $131,521.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,800.00 and $156,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Perception Algorithm Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Perception Algorithm Engineer, you need a strong background in computer vision, machine learning, and programming (typically C++ or Python), often supported by a degree in computer science, robotics, or a related field. Familiarity with tools like TensorFlow, PyTorch, OpenCV, and ROS, as well as experience with sensor data (e.g., LiDAR, cameras), is crucial. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are standout soft skills for this role. These skills are vital to develop robust perception systems that enable autonomous vehicles and robots to interpret and interact safely with complex real-world environments.

What is a Perception Algorithm Engineer?

A Perception Algorithm Engineer is a professional who develops algorithms that enable machines—such as autonomous vehicles or robots—to interpret and understand sensory data from their environment. This typically involves processing data from cameras, lidar, radar, and other sensors to identify objects, track movement, and understand surroundings. Perception Algorithm Engineers work with computer vision, sensor fusion, and machine learning techniques to create reliable and efficient perception systems. Their work is crucial in making machines aware of their surroundings and enabling them to respond appropriately. They often collaborate with hardware, software, and robotics teams to integrate their algorithms into real-world applications.

What are some common challenges faced by Perception Algorithm Engineers when integrating their solutions into autonomous systems?

Perception Algorithm Engineers often encounter challenges when ensuring their algorithms perform reliably in diverse real-world environments, such as varying lighting, weather conditions, and sensor noise. Integrating algorithms with hardware requires close collaboration with robotics and systems engineering teams to optimize performance and latency. Additionally, balancing accuracy with computational efficiency is crucial, as perception modules must run in real time on embedded systems. Addressing these challenges involves rigorous testing, continuous model improvement, and effective cross-functional communication.
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Perception Algorithm Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Perception Algorithm Engineer job openings in San Francisco, CA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Locum Tenens, 72% Full Time, 23% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $131,521 per year, or $63.2 per hour.

Machine Learning Engineer - Robot Perception

Maven Robotics

San Francisco, CA

Other

Re-posted 19 hours ago

Job description

Company Overview

Maven Robotics is building the world's leading general-purpose AI robots.

We are currently operating in stealth and are growing the world's best team in AI robotics. We are looking for self-starters that are the world's best in their field, who can innovate from a deep understanding of the fundamentals, and who share our values of unwavering truth seeking and integrity, humility, curiosity, and relentless determination.

Role Description

We are looking to recruit an exceptional Machine Learning Engineer - Robot Perception to design, implement, test, and deploy robot perception algorithms that power our robots' ability to understand and interact with the world.

In this role you will:

  • Develop, train, and deploy ML-based perception algorithms for object detection, pose estimation, tracking, and scene understanding.
  • Integrate sensor fusion techniques using cameras, depth sensors, IMUs, and tactile feedback.
  • Optimize real-time perception pipelines for low-latency and robust performance in dynamic environments.
  • Work closely with hardware engineers to design sensor configurations and optimize perception models for onboard deployment.
  • Contribute to our broader AI and autonomy stack, ensuring seamless integration with reasoning, manipulation, planning and control.
  • Collaborate across disciplines to ensure seamless integration of ML models and provide technical mentorship to junior engineers.
Qualifications

Must-have:

  • MS or PhD in machine learning, computer science, robotics, or a related field.
  • Strong background in computer vision, deep learning, and sensor fusion.
  • Proficiency in Python and C++, with experience in frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow, OpenCV, and ROS.
  • Hands-on experience with real-world robotics perception systems (e.g., SLAM, 3D reconstruction, multimodal perception).
  • Experience working with hardware, including setting up and calibrating cameras, LiDAR, and other sensors.
  • Experience with data collection, preprocessing, and management in the context of training ML models.
  • Self-starter attitude with strong ability to identify problems, prioritize them, then plan and execute working solutions.
  • Enthusiasm for working in a fast paced startup environment and eagerness to support the team on a variety of topics.

Nice-to-have:

  • Familiarity with robotic simulation environments (e.g., Gazebo, MuJoCo) and experience in sim-to-real transfer.
  • Experience in:
    • Developing models that can handle noisy, incomplete, or sparse data.
    • Deployment of ML models to edge devices for real-time inference (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson).
    • Accelerating ML training processes using GPU, TPU, or other HW accelerators.
    • General knowledge of robotics principles, including kinematics, dynamics, and control.

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