Senior Perception Hardware Engineer

Sensor Modeling: Define and implement robust intrinsic models for various optical sensors (e.g., pinhole, fisheye, Brown-Conrady, Kannala-Brandt) and inertial sensors (bias, scale factors, random walk).

Extrinsic Calibration: Develop highly accurate sensor-to-sensor and sensor to kinematic base spatial transformations.

Temporal Synchronization: Work with electrical and embedded teams to validate hardware-level timing. Ensure sub-microsecond synchronization across all perception streams using PTP (Precision Time Protocol), PPS, and hardware triggering.

Precision Fixturing: Design the physical calibration targets (e.g., CharuCo boards, custom 3D geometries) and the lighting environments required for high-repeatability factory calibration.

Mounting & Stability Validation: Collaborate with mechanical engineers to evaluate and optimize sensor mounting rigidity. Characterize calibration drift caused by thermal gradients, mechanical shock, and joint wear.

End-of-Line (EOL) Automation: Build the automated calibration pipeline for our manufacturing line, allowing non-engineers to reliably calibrate a multi-sensor humanoid head in minutes.

Online/In-Field Calibration: Develop lightweight "auto-calibration" or self-diagnostic routines that allow Apollo to detect sensor drift in the field and dynamically adjust its extrinsic transforms without human intervention.

Data & Analytics: Establish a data-tracking architecture to monitor fleet-wide calibration health, identifying batch variances or specific hardware degradation over time.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

Experience: 5+ years of industry experience in perception hardware, computer vision, or robotics, with a primary focus on sensor calibration and validation.

Mathematical Foundation: Deep understanding of 3D geometry, linear algebra, coordinate frame transformations (quaternions, rotation matrices, SE(3)), and non-linear optimization (least-squares, bundle adjustment).

Software Proficiency: Strong programming skills in Python and C++. Extensive experience with computer vision libraries (OpenCV, PCL) and optimization frameworks (e.g., Ceres Solver, g2o).

Hardware Intuition: Hands-on experience working directly with optical components, LiDAR mechanisms, and MEMS IMUs. You understand the physical limitations that cause optical distortion, rolling shutter artifacts, and IMU drift.

System-Level Thinking: Ability to translate abstract autonomy requirements (e.g., "we need 1cm grasping accuracy at 1 meter") into concrete hardware and calibration tolerances.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Education: MS, or PhD in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times

Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen

Hearing and speech to communicate

This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.

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