Senior ML Engineer, Perception

Clera
San Francisco, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have experience building perception systems on physical hardware and working with robotics teams.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with strong embedded systems and real-time ML deployment experience, especially in defense or robotics.
    — “deploy models to embedded hardware”
  • Individuals who have mentored perception engineers and delivered systems in field conditions.
    — “Mentor perception engineers while contributing directly to implementation”
  • Those with a background in sensor fusion and ML training pipelines that operate against real-world targets.
    — “developing ML training pipelines through deployment and delivering systems that work against real-world targets”

Things to consider

  • On-site requirement in San Francisco may limit remote candidates or those needing visa support.
    — “On-site in San Francisco, California, United States”
  • The role demands a deep understanding of real-time systems and sensor fusion, not just theoretical ML knowledge.
    — “Optimize real-time perception for embedded compute and strict latency budgets”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with sensor fusion and real-world deployment of perception systems in your resume.
    — “Fuse EO/IR and other sensor data across the perception system”
  • Showcase your ability to work across robotics, controls, and hardware teams in your interview narrative.
    — “Work closely with robotics, controls, and hardware teams to deliver systems that perform in the field”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • reliable perception systems
  • embedded deployment
  • real-world performance
Typical background
machine learningcomputer vision

Skills & requirements

Required

Machine LearningComputer VisionSensor FusionEmbedded SystemsReal-time Systems

Preferred

RoboticsAerospace

Stack & domain

PythonC++TensorrtONNXAutonomous Defense RoboticsComputer Vision

About the role

Original posting from Clera via Ashby

ABOUT THE ROLE

Lead the perception stack for an autonomous defense robotics system, covering detection, tracking, classification, and sensor fusion. You will partner with robotics, controls, and hardware engineers to deliver reliable performance in real-world field conditions.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • Own perception architecture across detection, tracking, classification, and sensor fusion.
  • Build ML models and training pipelines, then deploy models to embedded hardware.
  • Fuse EO/IR and other sensor data across the perception system.
  • Optimize real-time perception for embedded compute and strict latency budgets.
  • Work closely with robotics, controls, and hardware teams to deliver systems that perform in the field.
  • Mentor perception engineers while contributing directly to implementation.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

  • At least 5 years building and shipping perception systems on physical hardware.
  • Strong Python and production C++ skills, with experience in ML engineering and computer vision.
  • Experience building real-time detection and tracking using live sensor data, including moving-target tracking and ego-motion compensation.
  • Hands-on deployment of ML models with TensorRT, ONNX, or equivalent, and optimization for embedded compute.
  • Experience developing ML training pipelines through deployment and delivering systems that work against real-world targets.
  • Background in robotics, autonomy, aerospace, or defense perception; experience with aerial targets, thermal imagery, radar, or multi-sensor fusion is helpful.
  • BS, MS, PhD, or equivalent experience in computer science, electrical engineering, robotics, or a related field.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Base salary range: $190,000 to $222,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.

LOCATION

On-site in San Francisco, California, United States.

Source: Clera careers (Ashby)

Similar roles

More roles at Clera