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Robotics Perception Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Key work areas include autonomy, navigation, perception, and robot user interfaces. This position is for a full-time robotics engineer to develop software systems for future lunar rovers. Applicants ...

The Robotics Engineer is responsible for driving the integration of robotics, electromechanical ... Holds an understanding of robotics technologies--covering sensing, robot perception, path planning ...

Robotics Manipulation Engineer

Fremont, CA ยท On-site

$208K - $289K/yr

The Robotics Engineer is responsible for driving the integration of robotics, electromechanical ... Holds an understanding of robotics technologies-covering sensing, robot perception, path planning ...

You'll work on perception, autonomy, control systems, and infrastructure that allow robots to operate reliably in complex environments. This role is ideal for engineers who enjoy solving real-world ...

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Robotics Perception Engineer information

What are Robotics Perception Engineers?

Robotics Perception Engineers are professionals who specialize in enabling robots to interpret and understand their environment using sensors and data processing algorithms. They work on developing and implementing computer vision, sensor fusion, and machine learning techniques so that robots can perceive objects, people, and surroundings. Their work is crucial for applications such as autonomous vehicles, drones, industrial automation, and service robots. By improving a robot's ability to 'see' and make sense of the world, they help create safer and more effective robotic systems.

What is the difference between Robotics Perception Engineer vs Computer Vision Engineer?

AspectRobotics Perception EngineerComputer Vision Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Robotics, Computer Science, or Electrical Engineering; experience with perception algorithmsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related fields; strong programming skills in vision processing
Work EnvironmentRobotics labs, autonomous vehicle companies, industrial automationSoftware companies, tech startups, research labs focusing on image and video analysis
Industry UsageAutonomous vehicles, robotics, manufacturingHealthcare, security, consumer electronics, automotive

Robotics Perception Engineers focus on developing perception systems specifically for robots, integrating sensors and perception algorithms for navigation and interaction. Computer Vision Engineers primarily develop algorithms for interpreting visual data across various applications. While both roles require strong programming and understanding of perception, Robotics Perception Engineers specialize in sensor fusion and real-time processing within robotic systems, whereas Computer Vision Engineers work more broadly on image analysis and recognition tasks.

What are some common challenges faced by Robotics Perception Engineers when integrating new sensors into autonomous systems?

Robotics Perception Engineers often encounter challenges such as sensor calibration, data synchronization, and managing varying data quality when integrating new sensors. Ensuring that sensor data is accurately aligned in time and space is crucial for reliable perception in autonomous systems. Additionally, engineers must address the complexities of fusing data from multiple modalities (like cameras, LiDAR, or radar) while optimizing processing efficiency. Close collaboration with hardware and software teams is essential to troubleshoot integration issues and achieve robust, real-time perception.

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

To thrive as a Robotics Perception Engineer, you need strong expertise in computer vision, sensor fusion, machine learning, and proficiency in programming languages like C++ and Python, often supported by a degree in robotics, computer science, or a related field. Familiarity with tools and frameworks such as ROS (Robot Operating System), OpenCV, and deep learning libraries, as well as experience with sensors like LiDAR and cameras, is typically required. Excellent problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and adaptability help set standout professionals apart in this role. These competencies are crucial for enabling robots to accurately interpret and interact with their environment, leading to robust and reliable autonomous systems.
What cities in California are hiring for Robotics Perception Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Robotics Perception Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Robotics Perception Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution.
Senior Robot Perception Engineer - Visual Inspection/MLOps

Senior Robot Perception Engineer - Visual Inspection/MLOps

Bright Machines

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$180K - $235K/yr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

RETHINK MANUFACTURING
The only way to ignite change is to build the best team. At Bright Machinesยฎ, we're innovators and experts in our craft who have joined together to create a new category of manufacturing that will help transform the industry. We believe software and data are the answer, thoughtfully applied to solve our customers' unique challenges. Through intelligent automation, we give factories newfound flexibility, scalability, and resilience. We deliver products to meet the demands of today while building a platform to take advantage of what comes next.
Working with us means you'll have the opportunity to make lasting, impactful changes for our company and our customers. If you're ready to apply your exceptional skills to create the factory of the future, we'd love to speak with you.
ABOUT THE ROLE
As a senior Robot Perception Engineer on the Smart Robotics team at Bright Machines, you will be a hands-on senior contributor responsible for productizing visual inspection solutions for our automation platform. You will own the full pipeline-from algorithm development to production deployment-turning prototype inspection capabilities into reliable, high-throughput features that operate at scale across our automation lines. In this role, you will develop and optimize computer vision and deep learning models for defect detection, classification, and visual validation. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Operations, to design end-to-end inspection solutions that deliver consistent, accurate results under real-world factory conditions. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to shape the inspection product roadmap and drive the adoption of cutting-edge machine learning techniques in an industrial setting.
WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING
  • Develop and optimize visual inspection algorithms for defect detection, anomaly detection, classification, and quality validation using deep learning
  • Optimize model inference for GPU deployment, leveraging CUDA, TensorRT, and related acceleration frameworks
  • Collaborate with Mechanical engineers to design illumination setups that maximize inspection accuracy and robustness
  • Build and maintain data pipelines for model training, evaluation, and continuous improvement
  • Partner with platform team to establish MLOps practices for model versioning, experiment tracking, automated retraining, and production model monitoring
  • Harden inspection solutions for production reliability, including monitoring, alerting, and graceful degradation
  • Work with service engineering and field teams to deploy inspection solutions and support customer rollouts
  • Define metrics and benchmarks to measure inspection accuracy, throughput, and reliability

WHAT YOU WILL BRING
  • MS or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or the equivalent in experience with evidence of exceptional ability.
  • 5+ years of relevant experience in computer vision and/or machine learning
  • Strong programming skills in Python
  • Deep experience with PyTorch for model development and training
  • Experience optimizing ML models for GPU inference in production environments
  • Track record of shipping ML/CV models from prototype to production
  • Experience with image acquisition, camera systems, and sensor integration

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU HAD
  • Knowledge of lighting and optics for machine vision (diffuse/directional illumination, lens and filters)
  • Experience with industrial camera systems and standards (GigE Vision, GenICam, CoaXPress)
  • C/C++ experience for performance-critical components
  • Experience with MLOps tooling (MLflow, Weights & Biases, Kubeflow, or similar)
  • Experience with data annotation, labeling workflows, and active learning strategies
  • Experience with ROS2
  • Understanding of manufacturing processes and quality control methodologies
  • Publications or patents in computer vision, deep learning, or related fields

$180,000 - $235,000 a year
BE EMPOWERED TO CHANGE AN INDUSTRY
Bright Machines is a next-generation, AI-enabled manufacturer focused on data center infrastructure assembly operations. Bright Machines uses its proprietary AI-based robotics and software to assemble AI infrastructure hardware products (i.e., data center servers) for hyperscalers and leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). With its new AI factory, Bright Machines addresses increasing market demands for computing power due to the surge of AI and the U.S. national mandate to reshore manufacturing by building data center infrastructure at scale with higher quality and shorter time-to-market.
Bright Machines is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an integration center in Guadalajara, Mexico. The company has been recognized as one of Forbes' AI 50, awarded "Best AI-based Solution for Manufacturing" by AI Breakthrough, named a "Technology Pioneer" by the World Economic Forum, and highlighted by several other leading technology and innovation organizations.