Software Engineer - Perception (Fallback Stack)

Applied Intuition Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 151,000 - 255,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Intuition is seeking a Perception Software Engineer for the Autonomy team. You will build perception systems for L4 autonomous trucks at highway speeds, blending ML with classical perception methods. You’ll own end-to-end work from model architecture to on-road validation, in a safety-critical setting.

You will collaborate with behavior/planning, systems and safety teams, and validation. The role requires strong Python/C++ skills and production DL experience (PyTorch).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years in ML-based perception, CV, or robotics.
• Proficiency in Python and C++.
• Hands-on experience with training/deploying DL models (e.g., PyTorch).
• Solid grounding in multi-object tracking, state estimation, and 3D geometry.

Responsibilities

• Design, train, and deploy deep learning models for 3D object detection across LiDAR, camera, and radar.
• Build multi-sensor fusion architectures combining detection streams.
• Characterize failure modes; build evaluation sets and system metrics.
• Operate the data engine: shadow-mode comparisons, data mining, retraining loops.
• Contribute to camera- and LiDAR-based localization under degraded conditions.
• Advance the safety validation pipeline before road operation.

Skills

Python

C++

PyTorch

ML-based perception

3D object detection

Multi-sensor fusion

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science/Robotics/Electrical Engineering

Job description

About Applied Intuition

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

We are an in‑office company, and our expectation is that employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments.

About the role

As a Perception Software Engineer on the Autonomy team, you will build the perception system for L4 autonomous trucks operating at highway speeds. The stack combines state-of-the-art machine learning - multi-modal 3D detection, BEV representations, learned tracking - with rigorous classical perception: state estimation, multi-object tracking, and sensor fusion. You will own problems end-to-end, from model architecture and training through onboard deployment and on-road validation. This is safety‑critical software: every capability passes formal simulation, closed‑course, and safety sign‑off gates before it reaches public roads.

You will collaborate daily with behavior/planning engineers, systems and safety engineers, and validation teams.

At Applied Intuition, you will:

• Design, train, and deploy deep learning models for 3D object detection across LiDAR, camera, and radar sensors


• Build multi-sensor fusion architectures that combine independent detection and classification streams


• Characterize perception failure modes, build targeted evaluation sets, and hill‑climb system‑level metrics


• Build and operate the data engine: shadow‑mode comparison against production, automated data mining, and retraining loops


• Contribute to camera‑and‑LiDAR‑based localization perception under degraded conditions


• Take your work through the full safety validation pipeline before it operates on public roads

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field


• 5+ years of professional experience in ML-based perception, computer vision, or robotics


• Strong proficiency in Python and C++


• Hands‑on experience training and deploying deep learning models in production (e.g., PyTorch)


• Solid grounding in classical perception: multi‑object tracking, state estimation, and 3D geometry

Nice to have:

• Experience working in modern ML‑based perception for autonomous systems


• Experience with multi‑sensor calibration and fusion


• Experience optimizing models for onboard/embedded GPU inference


• Background in safety‑critical or automotive software development


• Experience in a startup or fast‑paced environment

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Please reference the job posting’s subtitle for where this position will be located. For pay transparency purposes, the base salary range for this full‑time position in the location listed is: $151,000 - $255,000 USD annually.

Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Applied Intuition is an equal‑opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60‑1.4(a), 41 CFR 60‑300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60‑741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.