Sr. ML Engineer, Perception

The Role and Your Impact

We need a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to lead the perception stack for Archimedes - detection, tracking, classification, and sensor fusion across the targeting chain. You're the seasoned engineer who's shipped perception in something that had to work outside a benchmark. You'll partner directly with our CTO and the robotics software team, and own perception as a domain.

What You'll Own

• Perception architecture across detection, tracking, classification, and sensor fusion
• ML model development, training pipelines, and on-device deployment
• Multi-sensor fusion across EO/IR and other sensors as relevant to the targeting chain
• Real-time performance optimization on embedded targets
• Mentorship of perception engineers as the team grows
• Direct partnership with controls, robotics SWE, and hardware on what's actually achievable

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years building and shipping perception systems on real hardware
• Strong Python and C++ with deep ML engineering experience
• Computer vision, tracking, and detection in real-time, real-world conditions
• On-device deployment experience using TensorRT, ONNX, or equivalent
• Track record optimizing perception for embedded compute and latency budgets

Additional information

Where you probably come from: Perception roles at defense companies, autonomy, perception-heavy robotics, or aerospace programs that put perception in front of real targets.

We want to talk if: You've shipped a perception system that ran on real hardware against real targets. You know the gap between paper SOTA and what survives field conditions.

Not a fit if: Your background is research only without deployment, you're a new grad (we'll have a junior role later), or your CV experience is offline batch processing only.

Nice to Haves

• Counter-UAS or aerial target tracking experience
• Radar or RF perception
• Classified program experience
• Sensor fusion in adversarial or denied environments

Education

• BS, MS, or PhD in CS, EE, Robotics, or equivalent. Track record matters more than degree.

How You Operate

• Extreme bias for action. You ship working perception on real hardware, not slideware
• You debug from first principles, not intuition alone
• Comfortable with ambiguity and fast iteration in a startup environment
• Clear communicator across software, hardware, and operator-facing surfaces
• Self directed. You identify what needs to happen next and do it without being told

How We Work

Core hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 6. When we're sprinting toward a demo or field test, the team ramps up - nights, weekends, whatever it takes to ship. When the sprint lands, we ramp down. We don't manufacture intensity for show.

Benefits

• Competitive salary + equity
• United Health Care medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible 18 days PTO + 5 sick days
• Travel to field test events and range days
• Covered daily lunches and office snacks + drinks
• E-bike / scooter stipend (Up to $500)
• Direct access to leadership and real ownership over your work

Export Control Notice

This role requires access to export-controlled information or items that require "U.S. Person" status. 1324b(a)(3).