Senior Autonomy Engineer

Darwin Recruitment; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Bonus

401(k)

Medical, Dental & Vision

Life & Disability Insurance

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment in Boston, MA, invites applications for a Senior Autonomy Engineer in a hybrid, full-time role. You will shape autonomous unmanned platforms deployed across commercial, industrial, and defense environments.

Design robust path planning, SLAM, and sensor fusion solutions; implement state estimation and control theory in C++/Python. Collaborate with Controls, AI, Systems, Simulation, and Software teams to test, validate, and deploy production-grade autonomy on vessels.

Qualifications

• MS with 4+ years of industry experience, or PhD with 2+ years developing autonomy algorithms.
• Deep expertise in path planning, SLAM, and control theory.
• Strong understanding of sensor fusion, state estimation, Kalman filters, and robotic perception.
• Strong C++ and Python development experience.
• Experience with ROS, MOOS-IvP, or similar robotics frameworks.
• Comfortable owning complex technical problems from concept through deployment with minimal direction.
• Experience developing autonomy for robotics, autonomous vehicles, maritime, aerospace, defense, or similar complex systems.

Responsibilities

• Design robust path planning, navigation, and decision-making capabilities.
• Build localization solutions for GPS-denied environments using radar, cameras, sonar, and sensor fusion.
• Help develop a universal autonomy stack capable of operating vessels ranging from 3-foot autonomous craft to 300-foot commercial vessels.
• Design and improve behavior-based autonomy architectures for real-world deployment.
• Work closely with Controls, AI, Systems, Simulation, and Software Engineering teams to deliver production-ready autonomy.
• Test, validate, and optimize algorithms through simulation and on-vessel trials.

Skills

Path planning

SLAM

Control theory

Sensor fusion

State estimation

Kalman filters

Robotic perception

C++

Python

ROS

MOOS-IvP

Autonomy ownership

Education

MS +4 years

PhD +2 years

Tools

ROS MOOS-IvP

Job description

Senior Autonomy Engineer

Boston, MA | Full-Time | Hybrid (3 days on-site)

Secure the Future of Autonomous Technology

We’re partnering with an innovative Defense company that are transforming the future of autonomous unmanned technology. This is an opportunity to secure cutting-edge autonomous platforms deployed across commercial, industrial, and defense environments.

What You’ll Do

• Design robust path planning, navigation, and decision-making capabilities.
• Build localization solutions for GPS-denied environments using radar, cameras, sonar, and sensor fusion.
• Help develop a universal autonomy stack capable of operating vessels ranging from 3-foot autonomous craft to 300-foot commercial vessels.
• Design and improve behavior-based autonomy architectures for real-world deployment.
• Work closely with Controls, AI, Systems, Simulation, and Software Engineering teams to deliver production-ready autonomy.
• Test, validate, and optimize algorithms through simulation and on-vessel trials.

What We’re Looking For

• M.S. with 4+ years of industry experience, or PhD with 2+ years developing autonomy algorithms.
• Deep expertise in path planning, SLAM, and control theory.
• Strong understanding of sensor fusion, state estimation, Kalman Filters, and robotic perception.
• Strong C++ and Python development experience.
• Experience with ROS, MOOS-IvP, or similar robotics frameworks.
• Comfortable taking ownership of complex technical problems from concept through deployment with minimal direction.
• Experience developing autonomy for robotics, autonomous vehicles, maritime, aerospace, defense, or similar complex systems.

Nice to Have

• Multi-sensor localization using radar, vision, LiDAR, or sonar.
• Experience operating in GPS-denied or contested environments.
• Motion planning or autonomous navigation for large robotic platforms.

Package

• Base Salary - $180k-$200k (depending on experience)
• Annual Bonus
• 401(k)
• Medical, Dental & Vision
• Life & Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Parental Leave