Perception and Autonomy Engineer

NightDragon Acquisition Corp.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health insurance

Generous PTO and Holidays

Paid parental leave

401(k) plan

Stock options

Free lunch benefit

Unlimited free drinks and snacks

Life and Disability Insurance

Free lunch & snacks

Job summary

A leader in defense autonomy solutions is seeking a Perception Engineer based in Austin, Texas. This role involves designing and implementing perception systems for autonomous vessels. The ideal candidate will have strong programming skills alongside experience with deep learning frameworks and an interest in maritime projects. Competitive salary and benefits package offered, including medical insurance and stock options. Join this innovative team focused on enhancing maritime operations for the Department of Defense.

Qualifications

• Strong programming fundamentals and experience with large systems.
• Willingness to learn and adapt based on new information.
• Demonstrated willingness to learn and adapt to new information.

Responsibilities

• Develop algorithms and models for sensing and navigation.
• Create metrics for analyzing boat performance.
• Analyze large data systems for model training.

Skills

Programming fundamentals

Deep learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch)

Rust proficiency

Signals processing or sensor fusion

Path planning algorithms

Tools

Rust

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Sensor fusion

Low latency inference

Path planning

Job description

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing defense autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state‑of‑the‑art solutions that enhance maritime operations for the Department of Defense (DoD) through autonomous and intelligent platforms.

We are seeking a Perception Engineer to play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and implementing perception systems for our autonomous surface vessels. Our team is laser focused on making boats go and perform tasks with no human involvement. This job is available at multiple levels, including entry, senior, and staff.

Responsibilities

• Develop algorithms and models which allow boats to sense and navigate
• Develop metrics which allow quantitative analysis of improvements and regressions in boat performance
• Analyze and work with large data systems to enable model training and evaluation

Requirements

• Strong programming fundamentals
  • Extensive programming experience and demonstrated ability to work on large systems
• Computing Fundamentals
  • A general understanding of operating systems and or similar large scale systems
  • An understanding of basic computer architecture
• A demonstrated willingness to learn and pivot based on new information

Useful Skills

• Familiarity with deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch)
• Understanding of various filters and their applications
• Proficiency in Rust
• Experience with maritime or autonomous vehicle projects
• Experience with signals processing or sensor fusion
• Experience with low latency inference and tracking pipelines
• Experience with path planning algorithms
• Experience training and deploying multi modal models
• Experience with various sensors including radar, cameras, and lidar
• Experience developing and optimizing deployed ML systems

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Occasional standing and walking within the office
• Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment
• Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports
• Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies
• Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages)

Benefits

• Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services
• Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check‑ups, orthodontics, and vision care
• Saronic pays 100% 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

This role requires access to export‑controlled information or items that require “U.S. Person” status. As defined by U.S. law: U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, and certain protected classes of asylees and refugees.

Saronic does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.