Principal State Estimation Engineer

Echodyne Corp; Kirkland (WA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 247,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSU program

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Echodyne is seeking a Principal State Estimation Engineer to lead radar position, velocity, orientation estimation in GPS-denied environments. You’ll design and deploy on-radar state estimation, integrating radar/IMU data with maps and sensors.

You’ll steer algorithm development from prototyping to production and mentor teams, delivering robust, real-time solutions for Echodyne’s expanding radar fleet.

Qualifications

• Experience in state-estimation, localization, navigation, perception, or ML for robotics or autonomous platforms from prototype through production.
• Strong background in SLAM, Kalman filtering, Bayesian estimation, and factor graphs.
• Proficiency with radar/IMU data and real-world spatial sensor data.
• Solid knowledge of linear algebra, probability, statistics, and optimization.
• Strong software skills in C++ and Python or MATLAB.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of radar pose-estimation methods in GPS-denied environments.
• Architect and implement state-estimation systems embedded in real-time radar platforms.
• Provide technical leadership on state-estimation and sensor-fusion topics.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate algorithms into products.
• Analyze field data to improve robustness and performance.

Skills

State estimation

Localization

Navigation

Machine learning

C++

Python or MATLAB

Communication

Education

MS with 7+ years

PhD with 5+ years

Tools

GTSAM

Ceres

Job description

Echodyne offers the world’s first compact solid-state true beam-steering radar for a wide range of industries and applications. Our high-performance radars work in all weather and are designed for autonomous vehicles, uncrewed aircraft & drones, and security of borders, critical infrastructure, and smart cities. The company combines the patented technology of metamaterials with powerful software to create a radar sensor with unprecedented performance at commercial price points. Echodyne offers its radars to companies working in Automotive, Transportation, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Border Security, Smart Cities, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), and Airspace Management including Urban Air Mobility (UTM).

Echodyne is seeking a Principal State Estimation Engineer to join our fast-growing team.

ROLE OVERVIEW

Inthis role, you’lllead development ofpose-estimation capabilitiesfor Echodyne radarsoperatinginGPS-denied environments.You’llarchitect and developnewon-radarsystems thatuse radar and inertial sensor data to estimatethe global position and motion ofradarswithoutrelianceon external navigation systems.

You’ll make key algorithm and system-level tradeoffs and own efforts from early prototyping through production deployment.You’llalsoprovide technical leadership on related state-estimation and sensor-fusion problems, such as target tracking.

Yourworkwillhaveanimmediate real-world impact onourestablishedandrapidlygrowingfleetoffieldedradars, helpingmake themmore robustandeffectiveat protecting theinfrastructure and people that rely on themin an evolving world.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead development of methodsforestimatingradar position, velocity, orientation,angularrate,andheightabovegroundin GPS-deniedenvironmentsusing radarandIMUdata,terrain maps, and otheron-radarsensors anddata.
• Apply techniques from robotics and autonomy, including SLAM, odometry,inertial navigation,localization,factor graphs,probabilistic state estimation, and machine learning– within the constraints of an embedded real-time system.
• Takethesealgorithms from research and prototyping through production implementation.
• Drivesystem-levelimpacts and coordinate with other teamson deployment.
• Work with radar, signal processing, embedded software, systems, and test teams to integrate capabilities into products.
• Analyze field datatocharacterize performance and identify failure modesto produce robust,production-grade solutions.

REQUIRED SKILLS / EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated ability to independently lead an open-ended technical problem.
• Experience developing state-estimation, localization,navigation, perception, or machine learningsolutionsfor robotics,VR/ARheadsets,autonomous vehicles, drones, aerospace, or similar platformsfrom prototype through production deployment.
• Experience working with real-worldspatialsensor data(e.g. camera, lidar, radar,ultrasound,sonar).
• Experience withSLAM, Kalman filtering, Bayesian estimation,andfactor graphs.
• Deepunderstanding of state-estimationtheory,3D geometry, coordinate transformations, rotations, and kinematics.
• Strong foundationsin linear algebra, probability, statistics, and optimization.
• Strongsoftware development skills in C++andeitherPython or MATLAB.
• Strongverbal and written communicationskills.

DESIRED SKILLS / EXPERIENCE
(Looking for one or more as a complement to the core skills)

• Experience with visual, lidar, or radar odometry; map- or terrain-relative localization, Maximum Likelihood Estimation.
• Experience withopen-source C++ optimizationlibraries (GTSAM, Ceres).
• Software development processes and best practices.
• Real-time or embedded algorithm development.
• Understanding oftraditional navigation sensors(IMUs, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, GPS, etc.).
• Familiarity with alternative navigation sensors (camera, RF ranging, celestial, etc.).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• MSwith7+yearsor PhDwith 5+ years of relevantexperience in robotics,VR/ARheadsets,aerospace, electrical engineering, computer science, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated technical leadership on complex, production-gradealgorithmdevelopment efforts.
• Ability to handle export-controlled (ITAR, EAR) data.

Echodyne’s technology is export controlled by the U.S. Government and we must evaluate an applicant’s eligibility to handle export-controlled information or obtain required Government authorizations. Therefore, we will ask you as part of the application process to identify whether you are a U.S. Citizen or green card holder, or have asylum/refugee status in the U.S.

WHAT WE OFFER

This is an exempt role.

The expected annual salary range for this role is

$164,594 - $246,788 USD

If your skills generally align but not perfectly, please apply anyway. There may be another role that’s a great fit for you!

We offer competitive compensation and benefits to our full-time, US-based employees, including:

• RSU (Restricted Stock Units)
• Fully-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums for you
• Choice of PPO or HDHP/HSA
• Virtual Care – 98Point6
• Employee Assistance Program
• Mental Health coverage through Springhealth & Talkspace (Premera)
• Travel Assistance Insurance
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Company Paid Short & Long Term Disability
• Flexible PTO (exempt) / 15 days per year (non-exempt)
• 401(k) match
• Pet Insurance
• Prepaid Legal Program
• Paid Company Holidays

All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected by law.

This is an on-site/hybrid role requiring consistent attendance at our Kirkland, WA location. Are you able to meet this requirement on an ongoing basis?