Robotics Software Engineer - Perception
$240k - $299k+ Equity + Relocation support
Expert
Master's, PhD
San Francisco, CA, USA
In Person
AI & Machine LearningComputer Vision
No H1B Sponsorship
About the job
Requirements
- At least 10 years of software engineering experience in computer vision, robotics perception, or autonomous systems, with a track record of technical leadership at Staff or Principal level or equivalent scope.
- Expert-level command of 3D computer vision, including point cloud processing, depth estimation, stereo and structured light systems, multi-view geometry, and/or LiDAR-based algorithms in production.
- Strong machine learning foundations, including model architecture, training infrastructure, and production deployment, and judgment about applying learned approaches versus classical methods.
- Experience in manufacturing, logistics, or other applied robotics environments, including familiarity with reliability and safety constraints for production deployment.
- Experience building and deploying real-time perception systems under hard latency and reliability constraints.
- Strong proficiency in C++ and Python, ability to write production-quality code, and ability to hold a high bar in technical review.
- Ability to define architecture across a domain, make and communicate high-stakes technical decisions, and build alignment across teams and organizational boundaries.
- Experience contributing meaningfully to technical hiring, including defining role requirements, evaluating candidates, and helping raise team caliber over time.
Responsibilities
- Define and drive the multi-year technical roadmap for the Perception Team, align perception capabilities with the broader Autonomous Factory Systems strategy, and surface upstream dependencies and risks early.
- Lead architecture of the full perception pipeline, including object detection and tracking, semantic and instance segmentation, 6-DoF pose estimation, and scene understanding, designed for industrial reliability and throughput demands.
- Define the integration surface between perception and adjacent systems, including motion planning, manipulation, control, and simulation, and establish clear, well-documented contracts for downstream teams.
- Drive sensor fusion strategy across LiDAR, structured light, RGB, and depth cameras, and collaborate with hardware teams on sensor selection and calibration pipelines.
- Establish team practices for data collection and labeling pipelines, model training and evaluation workflows, deployment practices, and validation criteria across simulation and real-world environments.
- Define role requirements, conduct technical interviews, and assess candidates; mentor engineers across levels on perception fundamentals and engineering craft.
- Represent perception in cross-functional design reviews and planning, and engage with hardware vendors and research collaborators where relevant.
- Continuously evaluate state-of-the-art research and make deliberate, justified decisions about when and how to incorporate advances into production systems.
Desired Qualifications
- A Master of Science or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field with a concentration in computer vision, machine learning, or perception.
- Hands-on experience with sensor fusion techniques, including multi-modal calibration, temporal alignment, and uncertainty quantification across sensor modalities.
- Familiarity with model optimization for edge deployment, including quantization, distillation, TensorRT, or equivalent.
- Publications, patents, or significant open-source contributions in computer vision, robotics perception, or machine learning.
About the company
Hadrian manufactures precision components for aerospace and defense companies through automated factories. Customers buy parts from prototype through production, reserve dedicated manufacturing and inspection cells, or engage Hadrian to design and operate factories for their products. Its Opus platform interprets technical designs and coordinates manufacturing and inspection, combining software with factory equipment and trained operators. Production services run in Hadrian facilities or within customer facilities, depending on the engagement. Its Atlas service manages procurement from vetted suppliers, extending the offering to parts sourced outside its factories.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series D
Total Funding
$2.3B
Headquarters
Torrance, California
Founded
2020
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Leadership compensation is disclosed: the Los Angeles Head of Qualification role targets $150,000 to $220,000 in salary.
- Technician onboarding supports expansion: Hadrian says Opus trains new factory technicians in 30 days or less.
- Technical mentorship is part of the job: Mesa systems administrators coach technicians and analysts while owning factory platforms.
What critics are saying
- External procurement adds dependencies: Atlas manages orders across a vetted supplier network through delivery.
- Factory IT demands incident response: Mesa systems administrators work onsite and handle failures at dawn or on Saturdays.
- Training relies on accurate records: the workforce systems role maintains documentation, skills tracking, and compliance content for production readiness.
What makes Hadrian unique
- Factory software spans production: Opus interprets designs and automates manufacturing and inspection.
- Customers commission operating capacity: Hadrian supplies dedicated production cells and designs and operates complete factories.
- Qualification has its own function: the Head of Qualification owns first-article verification through customer source approval.
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Benefits
- Substantial equity grants
- Healthcare, vision, dental, & life Insurance
- Stipends for relocation, home office and/or flights to LA
- Exposure to Tier 1 VCs & Angel Investors
- If you leave to start your own company, we'll invest and help you fundraise