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Perception Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Shield AI

Senior Manager, Perception (R5914)

Washington, DC · On-site

$240K - $360K/yr

As a member of the HMS Perception team, you will conduct software development at the intersection of classical state estimation techniques, sensor fusion, artificial intelligence, machine learning ...

Shield AI

Senior Manager, Perception (R5914)

Washington, DC · On-site

$240K - $360K/yr

As a member of the HMS Perception team, you will conduct software development at the intersection of classical state estimation techniques, sensor fusion, artificial intelligence, machine learning ...

Devyantram

Lead Perception & Controls Engineer

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

Role Summary You will design the real-time sensing-to-action layer of Devyantram's robots, bridging perception, planning, control, and learning. This role owns how the CEREBRION bionic brain ...

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Perception information

See Washington salary details

$32.2K

$169.9K

$256.6K

How much do perception jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for perception in Washington is $169,877.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $137,429.00 and $198,628.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a perception job?

A Perception job typically involves developing and improving a system's ability to interpret and understand sensory data, often in fields like robotics, autonomous vehicles, and computer vision. Professionals in this role work with sensor fusion, machine learning, and computer vision algorithms to detect, track, and classify objects in an environment. Their goal is to enable machines to perceive and react to their surroundings accurately, enhancing safety and efficiency.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a perception engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Perception Engineer, you need strong foundations in computer vision, robotics, and sensor fusion, typically supported by a degree in computer science, robotics, or a related field. Familiarity with tools like ROS, OpenCV, TensorFlow, and experience working with LiDAR, radar, or camera systems are highly valuable. Excellent problem-solving skills, adaptability, and effective communication help you collaborate within multidisciplinary teams and tackle complex technical challenges. These skills are crucial for developing reliable perception systems that enable autonomous machines to interpret and interact safely with real-world environments.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in perception roles within autonomous vehicle development teams?

Professionals in perception roles often encounter challenges related to processing large volumes of sensor data, such as lidar, radar, and cameras, in real time to ensure accurate object detection and scene understanding. Balancing the need for high accuracy with the computational limitations of embedded systems can be demanding. Additionally, perception engineers frequently collaborate with teams in sensor fusion, mapping, and planning, requiring strong communication and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills. Adapting to rapidly evolving technologies and continuously improving algorithms to handle edge cases in complex environments are also key aspects of the role.

What is the difference between Perception vs Data Analyst?

AspectPerceptionData Analyst
Required CredentialsVaries; often no formal certification requiredBachelor's degree in statistics, data science, or related field; certifications like CAP or Microsoft Data Analyst
Work EnvironmentResearch, consulting, or strategic planning settingsBusiness, finance, healthcare, and tech industries
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in marketing, psychology, and strategic rolesCommon in corporate, finance, and tech sectors
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding how perceptions influence decisionsAnalyzing data to inform business strategies

Perception focuses on how individuals interpret and understand information, often in psychological or strategic contexts. Data Analysts interpret and analyze data sets to support business decisions. While perception is more subjective and qualitative, Data Analysts rely on quantitative data analysis. Both roles are essential in decision-making processes but serve different functions within organizations.

What are popular job titles related to Perception jobs in Washington?

For Perception jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Perception jobs in Washington look for?

The top searched job categories for Perception jobs in Washington are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for Perception jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Perception job openings:

Perception jobs near you
Infographic showing various Perception job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $169,877 per year, or $81.7 per hour.

Manager, Software - Perception (R3770)

Washington, DC • On-site

Shield AI
Software Development • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Shield AIexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 21 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company focused on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. The role involves leading technical teams to develop advanced perception algorithms for autonomous aircraft, ensuring effective operation in complex environments.
Responsibilities:
• Lead teams across autonomy, integration, and testing by aligning technical efforts, resolving cross-functional challenges, and driving mission-focused execution.
• Design and implement robust algorithms for object detection, classification, and multi-target tracking across diverse sensor modalities.
• Integrate data from vision systems, radars, and other mission sensors using probabilistic and deterministic fusion techniques to generate accurate situational awareness.
• Design and refine algorithms for localization and pose estimation using IMU, GPS, vision, and other onboard sensing inputs to enable stable and accurate navigation.
• Interpret interface control documents (ICDs) and technical specifications for aircraft-mounted sensors to ensure correct data handling, interpretation, and synchronization.
• Tune and evaluate perception pipelines for performance, robustness, and real-time efficiency in both simulation and real-world environments.
• Work closely with autonomy, systems, and integration teams to interface perception outputs with planning, behaviors, and decision-making modules.
• Leverage synthetic data, simulation environments, and field testing to validate algorithm accuracy and mission readiness.
• Ensure seamless integration of perception algorithms with onboard compute platforms and diverse sensor payloads.
• Contribute novel ideas and state-of-the-art techniques to advance real-time perception capabilities for unmanned aircraft operating in complex, GPS-denied, or contested environments.
• Members of this team typically travel around 10-15% of the year (to different office locations, customer sites, and flight integration events).
Qualifications:
Required:
• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experience
• Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 5 years and a Master’s degree; or 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of experience in Unmanned Systems programs in the DoD or applied R&D
• 2+ years of people leadership experience
• Background in implementing algorithms such as Kalman Filters, multi-target tracking, or deep learning-based detection models.
• Familiarity with fusing data from radar, EO/IR cameras, or other sensors using probabilistic or rule-based approaches.
• Familiarity with SLAM, visual-inertial odometry, or sensor-fused localization approaches in real-time applications.
• Ability to interpret and work with Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and hardware integration specs.
• Proficiency with version control, debugging, and test-driven development in cross-functional teams.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.
Preferred:
• Hands-on integration or algorithm development with airborne sensing systems.
• Experience with ML frameworks such as PyTorch or Tensorflow, particularly for vision-based object detection or classification tasks.
• Experience deploying perception software on SWaP-constrained platforms.
• Familiarity with validating perception systems during flight test events or operational environments.
• Understanding of sensing challenges in denied or degraded conditions.
• Exposure to perception applications across air, maritime, and ground platforms.
Company:
Shield AI is a deep-tech company that focuses on developing AI-powered systems to enhance the safety of service members and civilians. Founded in 2015, the company is headquartered in San Diego, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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