Senior Software Systems Engineer - Perception

Latitude AI; Palo Alto, Detroit, Pittsburgh (CA, MI, Allegheny County); On-site; USD 179,200 - 268,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Parental leave

Job summary

Latitude AI in California is seeking a Senior Software Systems Engineer for Perception. You’ll shape architectures, requirements, and verification plans for perception functions, collaborating across software, algorithms, and hardware teams.

You will define perception use cases, build verification tooling, and prototype analysis tools in Python or C++. The role emphasizes safety, data‑driven improvement, and mentoring others in a fast‑moving team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics or a related field and 4+ years of relevant experience; Master’s or PhD provide alternatives.
• Proven track record of delivering high priority assignments efficiently.
• Experience in safety‑oriented software testing environments.
• Willingness to travel to remote offices and test facilities as needed.

Responsibilities

• Develop Systems Architectures, Requirements and Verification plans for Perception Functions.
• Contribute to the Software Architecture and Requirements.
• Define use cases and bounding scenarios for perception capabilities.
• Design and build metrics and tooling for verification/testing of perception software and hardware.
• Act as a cross‑functional expert in software, algorithms and hardware for perception.
• Apply statistical knowledge to estimate system and functional performance.
• Analyze in‑car results to drive data‑driven improvements.
• Collaborate with testing and triage teams on in‑car tests.
• Work with analytics, data science and cloud teams to scale metrics.
• Prototype tools in Python or C++ to analyze perception performance.
• Conduct data‑driven trade studies on hardware/software options.
• Mentor and coach others; promote safety and strong culture.

Skills

Detail oriented

Independent worker

Safety mindset

Willingness to travel

Mentoring/coaching

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/EE/Robotics

Master’s degree (optional)

PhD (optional)

Tools

Python

C++

Job description

Senior Software Systems Engineer - Perception

Pittsburgh, PA, Palo Alto, CA, Detroit, MI

Latitude AI (lat.ai) is building the future of Ford’s autonomy roadmap to make travel safer, less stressful, and more enjoyable for everyone. Bringing this vision to scale, our fully in‑house developed hands‑free ADAS platform will debut on Ford’s all‑new Universal Electric Vehicle in 2027.

When you join the Latitude team, you’ll work alongside leading experts across machine learning and robotics, cloud platforms, mapping, sensors and compute systems, test operations, systems and safety engineering – all dedicated to redefining the relationship between people and their vehicles for millions of customers.

As a Ford Motor Company subsidiary, we operate independently to develop automated driving technology at the speed of a technology startup. Latitude is headquartered in Pittsburgh with engineering centers in Dearborn, Mich., and Palo Alto, Calif.

Meet the team:

The Latitude AI Perception Systems Engineering Team brings all the components of the autonomy stack together. We work very closely with the software teams to verify all of the functions of the autonomy stack from sensing and perception through prediction and motion planning.

What you’ll do:

• Develop Systems Architectures, Requirements and Verification plans for Perception Functions
• Contribute to the Software Architecture and Requirements
• Define use cases and bounding scenarios that define the limits of perception capabilities
• Design and Build Metrics and Tooling for Verification and Testing of Perception software and hardware
• Act as a Cross‑Functional expert in Software, Algorithms and Hardware related to Perception Functions
• Apply detailed statistical knowledge to estimate system and functional level performance
• Analyze and root cause on‑car results to identify performance improvements in a data‑driven manner
• Work with the testing and triage teams to implement in‑car tests
• Work with the analytics, data science and cloud computing teams to implement metrics at scale
• Prototype different tools (in Python or C++) to analyze perception performance
• Perform data driven trade studies on a number of hardware and software alternatives
• Cultivate and maintain a healthy, diverse work culture and environment with a strong emphasis on safety
• Develop, mentor and coach others in your area of expertise
• Act as subject matter expert across the perception functions

What you'll need to succeed:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics or a related field and 4+ years of relevant experience (or Master’s degree and 2+ years of relevant experience, or PhD)
• Proven track record of delivering high priority assignments efficiently
• Experience in a professional work environment where safety, honesty, procedure and/or software testing are emphasized
• Strong desire to learn new skills related to technology and software
• Detail oriented mindset with a focus on safety and procedure
• Ability to work independently or with minimal supervision
• Willingness to travel to remote offices and test facilities as needed

What we offer you:

• Competitive compensation packages
• High-quality individual and family medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health savings account with available employer match
• Employer‑matched 401(k) retirement plan with immediate vesting
• Employer‑paid group term life insurance and the option to elect voluntary life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Paid medical leave
• Unlimited vacation
• 15 paid holidays
• Daily lunches, snacks, and beverages available in all office locations
• Pre‑tax spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Monthly wellness stipend
• Adoption/Surrogacy support program
• Backup child and elder care program
• Employee assistance program
• Discounted programs that include legal services, identity theft protection, pet insurance, and more
• Company and team bonding outlets: employee resource groups, quarterly team activity stipend, and wellness initiatives

Learn more about Latitude’s team, mission and career opportunities at lat.ai!

The expected base salary range for this full‑time position in California is $179,200 - $268,800 USD. Actual starting pay will be based on job‑related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Latitude employees are also eligible to participate in Latitude’s annual bonus programs, equity compensation, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.

Candidates for positions with Latitude AI must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is available for this position.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status.