Principal State Estimation Engineer Kirkland, WA Research and Development

Echodyne; Kirkland (WA); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 247,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSU program

Top-tier medical/dental/vision

401(k) match

Flexible PTO

Paid holidays

Job summary

Echodyne seeks a Principal State Estimation Engineer to lead pose-estimation development for radar systems. You will architect on-radar solutions using radar and IMU data to estimate global position and motion without external navigation, from prototyping to production deployment.

You’ll guide algorithm and system-level tradeoffs, own state-estimation and sensor-fusion problems, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure robust, field-ready results that protect infrastructure and

Qualifications

• Lead open-ended technical problems independently.
• Experience developing state-estimation solutions for robotics or autonomous systems from prototype to production.
• Experience with real-world spatial sensor data (camera, lidar, radar, ultrasound).
• Experience with SLAM, Kalman filtering, Bayesian estimation, and factor graphs.
• Strong understanding of state-estimation theory, 3D geometry, coordinate transforms, rotations & kinematics.
• Foundations in linear algebra, probability, statistics & optimization.
• Strong C++ and Python or MATLAB software skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of radar position, velocity, orientation, and height estimation in GPS-denied environments.
• Apply robotics/ autonomy techniques within an embedded real-time system.
• Transition algorithms from research to production implementation.
• Drive system-level impacts and coordinate deployment with other teams.
• Collaborate with radar, signal processing, embedded software, systems, and test groups.
• Analyze field data to characterize performance and identify failure modes.

Skills

State estimation

Robotics/ autonomy

Radar/IMU data fusion

SLAM/ Kalman filtering

3D geometry

Linear algebra/ probability/ stats

C++

Python/ MATLAB

Communication skills

Education

MS in robotics / CS / related field

PhD in related field

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

In this role, you’ll lead development of pose-estimation capabilities for Echodyne radars operating in GPS-denied environments. You’ll architect and develop new on-radar systems that use radar and inertial sensor data to estimate the global position and motion of radars without reliance on external navigation systems.

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

Your work will have an immediate real-world impact on our established and rapidly growing fleet of fielded radars, helping make them more robust and effective at protecting the infrastructure and people that rely on them in an evolving world.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead development of methods for estimating radar position, velocity, orientation, angular rate, and height above ground in GPS-denied environments using radar and IMU data, terrain maps, and other on-radar sensors and data.
• 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.
• Take these algorithms from research and prototyping through production implementation.
• Drive system-level impacts and coordinate with other teams on deployment.
• Work with radar, signal processing, embedded software, systems, and test teams to integrate capabilities into products.
• Analyze field data to characterize performance and identify failure modes to 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 learning solutions for robotics, VR/AR headsets, autonomous vehicles, drones, aerospace, or similar platforms from prototype through production deployment.
• Experience working with real-world spatial sensor data (e.g. camera, lidar, radar, ultrasound, sonar).
• Experience with SLAM, Kalman filtering, Bayesian estimation, and factor graphs.
• Deep understanding of state-estimation theory, 3D geometry, coordinate transformations, rotations, and kinematics.
• Strong foundations in linear algebra, probability, statistics, and optimization.
• Strong software development skills in C++ and either Python or MATLAB.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

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 with open-source C++ optimization libraries (GTSAM, Ceres).
• Software development processes and best practices.
• Real-time or embedded algorithm development.
• Understanding of traditional navigation sensors (IMUs, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, GPS, etc.).
• Familiarity with alternative navigation sensors (camera, RF ranging, celestial, etc.).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• MS with 7+ years or PhD with 5+ years of relevant experience in robotics, VR/AR headsets, aerospace, electrical engineering, computer science, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated technical leadership on complex, production-grade algorithm development 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

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.