Perception & Sensor Fusion Engineer

Saildrone; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 323,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO

Health coverage

Equity grants

401(k)

Professional development reimbursement

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Saildrone is seeking a Perception & Sensor Fusion Engineer to develop algorithms that fuse sensor data into detections, tracks, and higher-level environmental representations. You will work across perception, computer vision, tracking, and ML to enable reliable autonomy for our USVs and mission operators.

The role requires turning noisy observations into actionable outputs, integrating with production software, and validating performance using real-world data.

Qualifications

• Strong software engineering and algorithm-development skills in Python and/or C++.
• Hands-on experience with perception, computer vision, sensor fusion, tracking, or related robotics algorithms.
• Experience working with real sensor data and developing systems that must perform reliably in uncontrolled environments.
• Strong understanding of object detection, multi-object tracking, state estimation, sensor fusion, or computer vision.
• Experience developing and evaluating machine-learning models for perception.
• Ability to turn noisy sensor observations into reliable, measurable system outputs.
• Experience taking algorithms from development through integration and validation in a production system.

Responsibilities

• Develop perception and sensor-fusion algorithms that combine observations from multiple sensor modalities.
• Develop and evaluate algorithms for object detection, classification, tracking, and estimation.
• Train, evaluate, and deploy machine-learning models where ML is the right approach to the problem.
• Develop algorithms that use information from one sensor to guide or cue another sensor, including PTZ cameras.
• Analyze real-world sensor data to identify failures, edge cases, and opportunities to improve performance.
• Integrate perception outputs with production software and cloud applications used by mission operators.
• Validate and continuously improve perception capabilities using real operational data.

Skills

Python

C++

Perception

Computer vision

Sensor fusion

Tracking

ML for perception

Tools

PyTorch

Job description

The Company

Saildrone is a maritime defense company and the global leader in autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). With more ocean miles and real-world operational experience than any USV manufacturer or operator, Saildrone maintains active, combat-deployed systems supporting national security and force projection around the world, 24/7/365.

Saildrone's manufacturing and R&D headquarters are located in Alameda, CA, with business development and sales operations in Washington, DC, and deployment hubs in Europe and the Middle East. By combining proven autonomous operations, edge computing, advanced sensing, renewable power, and the most advanced and robust unmanned surface technology on the planet, Saildrone is shaping how the Navy of the future operates. Join a fast-moving, mission-driven team at the forefront of maritime security and autonomous innovation.

THE POSITION

Saildrone's vessels use multiple sensors to detect and track objects in the maritime environment. The challenge is turning imperfect observations from different sensors into reliable tracks and useful information for autonomous systems and mission operators.

As a Perception & Sensor Fusion Engineer, you will develop the algorithms and software that combine sensor observations into detections, tracks, and higher-level representations of the environment. Your work may span machine learning, computer vision, tracking, sensor fusion, and active sensing—for example, using information from one sensor to direct a PTZ camera toward an object of interest.

The Responsibilities

• Develop perception and sensor-fusion algorithms that combine observations from multiple sensor modalities.
• Develop and evaluate algorithms for object detection, classification, tracking, and estimation.
• Train, evaluate, and deploy machine-learning models where ML is the right approach to the problem.
• Develop algorithms that use information from one sensor to guide or cue another sensor, including PTZ cameras.
• Analyze real-world sensor data to identify failures, edge cases, and opportunities to improve performance.
• Integrate perception outputs with production software and cloud applications used by mission operators.
• Validate and continuously improve perception capabilities using real operational data.

The Qualifications

• Strong software engineering and algorithm-development skills in Python and/or C++.
• Hands-on experience with perception, computer vision, sensor fusion, tracking, or related robotics algorithms.
• Experience working with real sensor data and developing systems that must perform reliably in uncontrolled environments.
• Strong understanding of one or more areas such as object detection, multi-object tracking, state estimation, sensor fusion, or computer vision.
• Experience developing and evaluating machine-learning models for perception.
• Ability to turn noisy sensor observations into reliable, measurable system outputs.
• Experience taking algorithms from development through integration and validation in a production system.

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience with PyTorch or another modern ML framework.
• Experience with multimodal fusion involving cameras, radar, LiDAR, sonar, or other sensors.
• Experience with active perception, sensor cueing, visual tracking, or camera control.
• Experience deploying perception systems on autonomous vehicles, robotics, aerospace, or other physical systems.

The base salary range for this position is shown below. Actual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and qualifications. This range reflects the base salary for candidates in states requiring pay transparency disclosure.

Salary Range

$144,500—$322,742 USD

To view Saildrone's candidate privacy policy, please visit: https://www.saildrone.com/privacy-policy.

Benefits

At Saildrone, we’re building operational capability that matters—and that requires people who can do their best work over the long term. We invest in our team’s well-being, financial security, and professional growth so you can focus on delivering real-world impact with confidence and stability. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support you and your family while you contribute to a mission with lasting significance.

• Generous Time Off: Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual plus a robust annual holiday schedule and paid sick leave ensure you can rest, reset, and sustain performance over time.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Premium, multi-tier Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with significant company contributions for employees and dependents—providing security and peace of mind.
• Shared Ownership in the Mission: Equity grants are a core part of our compensation, allowing you to participate in the long-term value you help create through meaningful, operational work.
• Retirement Savings: Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with flexible pre‑tax and Roth payroll contribution options supports long-term financial planning.
• Investment in Your Growth: We support your continuous learning through an annual professional development reimbursement program, empowering you to sharpen your skills and stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving field.
• Relocation Support: For eligible roles, we offer relocation assistance to help bring the world’s best talent to our mission-critical locations.

Saildrone is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.