Perception Hardware Engineer

Responsibilities

• Drive the design and development of camera hardware systems, including sensor selection, optics integration, and electronic circuitry for autonomous surface vessels. 
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including mechanical engineers and software developers, to ensure seamless integration of camera and sensor systems into navigation and control algorithms. 
• Assess and select camera components (sensors, lenses, and supporting electronics) that meet specific performance and durability standards for extreme maritime conditions. 
• Design and select sensors or integrated products used for navigational and situational awareness in a marine environment, creating data for sensor fusion and machine learning algorithms. 
• Develop prototypes of camera systems and conduct rigorous testing to evaluate image quality, latency, and environmental resilience under real-world conditions. 
• Identify and resolve hardware-related issues during the development and field-testing phases, ensuring the reliability of camera systems. 
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation of hardware and software designs, testing protocols, and performance metrics for future reference. 
• Participate in field tests of autonomous vessels, gathering data on camera performance and making necessary adjustments based on real-world feedback. 
• Assist in planning and managing projects related to camera hardware, ensuring timely completion of development milestones. 
• Research new products and drive vendor developments for continuous improvement. 
• Provide expert technical support to internal teams and external stakeholders regarding camera system functionalities and troubleshooting. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics or similar. 
• Experience interacting with vendors and developing supply chain relationships. 
• Experience with full life cycle product development, from initial concept to manufacturing 
• Knowledge in building compute systems for GPU acceleration, high-bandwidth data transfer, specifically tailored for computer vision and machine learning applications. 
• Basic understanding of computer networking, GPU compute hardware, ability to spec out compute servers. 
• Knowledge of major camera component technologies, functions, and the ability to describe their effects on imaging. 
• Extensive experience in camera component and accessory selection to achieve optimal performance for computer vision applications. 
• Understanding of MEMS sensor technologies and the ability to down select components such as accelerometers, IMUs, INS systems, RTK GPS systems, and other high precision positioning/orientation technologies. 
• Ability to travel as needed.  

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge in optical physics of light, filters, reflective and transmissive material sciences, interferometry and the physics behind a camera’s optical construction, sensors, geometries, and lenses. 
• Familiarity of the infrared spectrum, black body radiation, other physical phenomena related to infrared imaging. 
• Knowledge of infrared cameras including construction, sensor physics, lens and material properties. 
• Background in machine vision and learning algorithms. 
• Familiarity with basic radar sensor technologies, fundamental physics, and subcomponent construction. 
• Experience in Rust, C/C++, Python, and OpenCV libraries. 
• Proven ability to spec out, design, and build high-performance compute servers optimized for computer vision workloads. This includes selecting appropriate processors, GPUs, memory, and storage solutions to ensure efficient data handling and real-time processing capabilities. 
• Linux proficiency strongly preferred. 

Benefits

• Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services
• Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents
• Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care
• Saronic pays 99% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents
• Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays
• Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents
• Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses
• Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan
• Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success
• Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
• Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office