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Senior Perception Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts

Senior Machine Learning Engineer - Perception

Boston, MA ยท On-site

$113K - $155K/yr

As a Perception Engineer, you will be instrumental in designing and implementing cutting-edge detection models, utilizing fused sensor data. In particular, the role will be on advanced projects that ...

$220K - $292K/yr

ABOUT THE JOB Senior Robotics Engineers independently drive delivery of vehicle perception and planning capability integrated in to our products. This includes systems analysis, sensor selection and ...

Robotics Software Engineer

Boston, MA ยท On-site

$191K - $253K/yr

ABOUT THE JOB Robotics Engineers lead the delivery of vehicle perception and planning capability integrated in to our products, acting as technical leads, extremely senior individual contributors ...

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Senior Perception Engineer information

What is a senior perception engineer?

Senior Perception Engineers are specialized professionals who design and develop advanced perception systems for machines, such as autonomous vehicles or robots. They work on algorithms and sensor fusion techniques to help machines interpret and understand their environment, enabling safe navigation and decision-making. Their role often involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, optimizing software for real-time performance, and integrating sensor data from cameras, LiDAR, radar, and other sources. Senior-level engineers typically have several years of experience and take on leadership responsibilities within perception teams.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior perception engineer?

To thrive as a Senior Perception Engineer, you need a strong background in computer vision, machine learning, and sensor data processing, typically supported by a degree in computer science, robotics, or a related field. Proficiency with tools such as Python, C++, ROS, and deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow or PyTorch) is essential, along with experience working with LiDAR, radar, and camera systems. Excellent problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and strong communication skills help you tackle complex challenges and integrate seamlessly with multidisciplinary teams. These skills ensure the development of robust perception systems critical for the safety and performance of autonomous vehicles or robotic platforms.

How does a senior perception engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams in autonomous systems development?

As a Senior Perception Engineer, you will work closely with experts in robotics, software engineering, and hardware integration to develop and refine perception algorithms for autonomous systems. Collaboration often involves frequent meetings with sensor teams to ensure data quality, as well as alignment with planning and controls engineers to guarantee that perception outputs meet system requirements. You may also participate in code reviews, joint debugging sessions, and design discussions to ensure seamless integration of perception modules. This cross-disciplinary teamwork is essential for building reliable and robust autonomous solutions.

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

AspectSenior Perception EngineerComputer Vision Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS, EE, or related; experience in perception algorithmsBachelor's/Master's in CS, EE, or related; strong background in image processing and algorithms
Work EnvironmentAutonomous vehicles, robotics, AI systemsImage analysis, machine learning, AI applications
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, automotive, roboticsTech firms, research labs, automotive
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared due to overlapping skills in perception and visionRelated but more focused on visual data processing

While both roles involve working with perception and visual data, a Senior Perception Engineer typically focuses on integrating perception systems into autonomous platforms, whereas a Computer Vision Engineer specializes in developing algorithms for image and video analysis. The roles often overlap but differ in application focus and industry usage.

What are the most commonly searched types of Perception Engineer jobs in Massachusetts?

The most popular types of Perception Engineer jobs in Massachusetts are:

Senior Perception Software Engineer

Charlestown, MA โ€ข On-site

Pickle Robot Company
Transportation and Warehousingย โ€ขย 1 - 10 employees

$133K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 2 days ago


Job description

About Us
At Pickle Robot, we're on a mission to automate global supply chains with Physical AI. Our robots work alongside warehouse teams to unload trucks and containers — one of the toughest, most understaffed jobs in logistics — making the work safer, faster, and more efficient for the people doing it.  Loading trucks comes next, followed by the Dill Autonomy Engine: generalized autonomy that will eventually orchestrate robots across entire logistics processes.
 
We're looking for a dynamic, driven Senior Perception Software Engineer to help revolutionize the future of warehouse automation. This role will focus heavily on working with 3D LiDAR and other multi-sensor arrays to tackle complex challenges in state estimation, scene perception, mapping, and localization. You will play a crucial part in writing robust, production-grade software that translates raw sensor data into actionable intelligence for our robots operating in dynamic, real-world unloading docks.


What You’ll Do
  • Improve the accuracy of our state estimation pipeline, delivering reliable pose for both the robot's mobile base and the objects around it.
  • Build obstacle mapping for collision avoidance that holds up in cluttered, unpredictable trailers.
  • Implement and optimize point cloud processing for real-time edge compute.
  • Architect the software stack that consumes our ML model outputs and moves new perception pipelines into the production codebase.
  • Automate multi-sensor calibration — managing tolerance stacks so every sensor agrees on where things are.
Who You'll Bring
  • 5+ years in robotics software engineering, or an MS plus 3+ years.
  • Exceptional software engineering fundamentals, with production-level Python and C++.
  • Strong mathematical foundation in linear algebra, 3D geometry, and probabilistic robotics.
  • Hands-on experience building perception systems with ROS/ROS2, OpenCV, Open3D, and Eigen.
  • Worked directly with 3D LiDAR, IMUs, and cameras.
  • A "full-stack" instinct: you care about edge cases in the physical world, and you can articulate architectural trade-offs well enough to move a system-level decision.
  • Able to work from our Charlestown, MA HQ at least 3 days a week.
     Nice to have:
  • Optimization libraries (Ceres Solver, GTSAM), CUDA, PCL, Docker.
Pay at PickleAt Pickle Robot Company, we believe transparency builds trust. The salary range listed here is provided in accordance with Massachusetts law and reflects what we reasonably and in good faith expect to offer for this role. We often consider candidates at different levels of seniority, and final compensation will reflect the level at which a candidate is hired, along with factors like experience and location. Pickle Perks  Pickle provides best-in-class benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance; unlimited vacation; paid federal and state holidays; 401(k) contributions of 5% of your salary; company-covered travel expenses; and other perks to make your working life more fun, comfortable, and productive. 

Pay at Pickle
At Pickle Robot Company, we believe transparency builds trust. The salary range listed here is provided in accordance with Massachusetts law and reflects what we reasonably and in good faith expect to offer for this role. We often consider candidates at different levels of seniority, and final compensation will reflect the level at which a candidate is hired, along with factors like experience and location.
 Pickle Perks 
Pickle provides best-in-class benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance; unlimited vacation; paid federal and state holidays; 401(k) contributions of 5% of your salary; company-covered travel expenses; and other perks to make your working life more fun, comfortable, and productive. 

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.