Research Engineer

Taleo; Pasadena, Northern (CA, KY); On-site; USD 63,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

Caltech seeks a Research Engineer in Pasadena to build perception and planning software for autonomous uncrewed aircraft. You will develop algorithms, integrate with onboard sensing and embedded computing, calibrate sensors, and validate results in lab and field.

Aircraft carry visual/thermal imaging, inertial navigation, and onboard compute with a ground station link for offboard processing. This role spans from algorithm development to flight and involves close collaboration with graduate

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in engineering, computer science, or closely related field, or equivalent degree.
• Demonstrated experience developing computer vision or robotic perception software and running it on physical robot hardware.
• Programming in Python and C++; ROS or ROS 2; Linux.

Responsibilities

• Develop perception and planning algorithms for onboard sensing and autonomous decision-making.
• Characterize and calibrate onboard imaging sensors and relate measurements to ground positions.
• Deploy algorithms to embedded compute on aircraft and integrate with flight stack, sensors, and ground station.
• Conduct flight testing, field campaigns, data collection, and performance assessment.
• Create technical documentation, trade studies, and project reporting.

Skills

Python

C++

ROS/ROS 2

Computer vision

Robotics

Education

Bachelor of Science in engineering or computer science

Master's degree in robotics or related field

Tools

NVIDIA Jetson

CUDA

TensorRT

Docker

Job description

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.

Job Summary

The Gharib Group develops autonomous systems for uncrewed aircraft operating in unstructured outdoor environments. We are seeking a Research Engineer to build and deploy the perception and planning software that allows these aircraft to sense their surroundings, interpret what they observe, and decide where to fly next.

The role spans the full path from algorithm to flight. The Engineer will develop perception and decision-making algorithms, integrate them with onboard sensing and embedded computing, characterize and calibrate the sensors involved, and validate the results through testing in the laboratory and in the field. The aircraft carry visual and thermal imaging, inertial navigation, and onboard compute, with a link to a ground station for offboard processing and operator supervision.

This position suits an engineer who wants to see their work run on real hardware rather than in simulation alone, and who is comfortable moving between algorithm development, software integration, and hands-on field testing. It offers close collaboration with graduate researchers and broad exposure across the group’s aerial autonomy work.

Perception and planning algorithms:

• Algorithms for onboard sensing, scene interpretation, and autonomous decision-making, including how prior map and terrain information informs flight planning.

Imaging and sensor work:

• Characterizing and calibrating onboard imaging sensors; relating sensor measurements to positions on the ground from aircraft pose and map data; visualization of results.

Onboard software and integration:

• Deploying algorithms to embedded compute on the aircraft; interfaces to the flight stack, sensors, and ground station; simulation and test infrastructure.

Flight testing and field campaigns:

• Aircraft operation, test planning, data collection, and assessing performance under real field conditions.

Documentation and reporting:

• Technical documentation, trade studies, and project reporting.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in engineering, computer science, or a closely related field, or equivalent degree.
• Demonstrated experience developing computer vision or robotic perception software and running it on physical robot hardware (academic, research, and project experience counts).
• Programming in Python and C++; the Robot Operating System (ROS or ROS 2); computer vision libraries; Linux.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in robotics, computer vision, or a related engineering field.
• Imaging sensors beyond conventional cameras - thermal or infrared, for example - including characterization and calibration.
• Planning under uncertainty - informative path planning or probabilistic and belief-space methods.
• Deploying software on embedded compute for robots - for example, NVIDIA Jetson, CUDA, TensorRT, Docker.

Required Documents

• Resume

Hiring Range

$63,000 to $89,000 per year

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our benefits and staff perks .

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.

If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at [e-mail] .

Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at [e-mail] .