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Robotics Perception Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

FieldAI

Senior Robot Perception Engineer

Irvine, CA

$70K - $300K/yr

We're looking for a Senior Robotics Perception Engineer to own and advance perception capabilities for our federal autonomy programs. In this role, you will lead development of the perception stack ...

FieldAI

Senior Robot Perception Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

$70K - $300K/yr

We're looking for a Senior Robotics Perception Engineer to own and advance perception capabilities for our federal autonomy programs. In this role, you will lead development of the perception stack ...

Aurelius Systems

Perception Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$130K - $170K/yr

This role bridges data science, software engineering, and robotics to deliver reliable, high‑throughput perception performance on edge hardware. What You'll Own: * Design, train, validate and fine ...

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Robotics Perception information

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in Robotics Perception roles when integrating perception systems with real-world robotics applications?

A key challenge in Robotics Perception is ensuring that perception algorithms—such as object detection, mapping, and localization—operate reliably in dynamic, unstructured environments. Professionals often need to address sensor noise, variable lighting conditions, and occlusions that can impact data quality. Integrating perception systems with robotic hardware requires close collaboration with mechanical, software, and controls engineers to ensure real-time performance and robustness. Adapting solutions to different platforms and continuously validating them in field tests is also an essential, ongoing responsibility.

What is robotics perception?

Robotics perception refers to the ability of robots to interpret and understand their environment using sensors such as cameras, LIDAR, and radar. This field combines elements of computer vision, machine learning, and sensor fusion to help robots identify objects, navigate spaces, and interact with the world safely and effectively. Robotics perception is crucial for autonomous systems like self-driving cars, drones, and industrial robots, enabling them to make decisions based on real-time data from their surroundings.

What is the difference between Robotics Perception vs Robotics Software Engineer?

AspectRobotics PerceptionRobotics Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Robotics, Computer Science, or related fields; experience with perception algorithmsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related; programming skills in C++, Python
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, R&D departments, industry settings focused on sensor data processingDevelopment teams, industrial or research settings, focusing on software development for robots
Industry UsageUsed in autonomous vehicles, drones, and robotic systems for environment understandingDevelops the software that enables robotic functionalities, including perception modules

Robotics Perception specialists focus on developing algorithms that interpret sensor data to understand the environment, while Robotics Software Engineers build the overall software systems that incorporate perception modules. Both roles often collaborate but differ in their core focus and skill sets.

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 a solid background in computer vision, machine learning, and robotics, typically supported by a degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field. Experience with tools like ROS (Robot Operating System), OpenCV, and programming languages such as Python or C++ is essential, along with familiarity with sensor technologies and perception algorithms. Strong problem-solving skills, teamwork, and clear communication are crucial soft skills for addressing complex challenges and collaborating effectively. These abilities ensure robust perception systems, enabling robots to interpret and interact safely and efficiently with their environments.
What are popular job titles related to Robotics Perception jobs in California? For Robotics Perception jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Robotics Perception jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Robotics Perception jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Robotics Perception jobs? Cities in California with the most Robotics Perception job openings:
Robotics Perception jobs near you
Infographic showing various Robotics Perception job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 1% Temporary. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution.

Machine Learning Engineer - Robot Perception

Maven Robotics

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 27 days 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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