Senior Perception Engineer - #260380

About Mach Industries

Founded in 2022, Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology company focused on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. At the core of our mission is the commitment to delivering scalable, decentralized defense systems that enhance the strategic capabilities of the United States and its allies. With a workforce of approximately 120 employees, we operate with startup agility and ambition.

Our vision is to redefine the future of warfare through cutting-edge manufacturing, innovation at speed, and unwavering focus on national security. We are dedicated to solving the next generation of warfare with lethal systems that deter kinetic conflict and protect global security.

The Role

Mach Industries is seeking a Perception Engineer to develop advanced perception systems for autonomous unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). You will design, implement, and optimize algorithms for real-time environmental perception, object detection, and tracking, enabling robust autonomy in complex and contested environments. Your skills in computer vision, sensor fusion, and machine learning will enhance the situational awareness and decision-making capabilities of our UAVs in dynamic defense scenarios.

At Mach Industries, we build decentralized autonomous platforms to maintain an allied American edge. As a Perception Engineer, you will collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to create perception technologies tailored for aerospace applications, driving mission success in modern theaters of battle.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop perception algorithms for UAVs, focusing on real-time object detection, classification, tracking, and environmental mapping.
• Design and optimize sensor fusion pipelines integrating cameras, LiDAR, radar, and other sensors to achieve robust scene understanding.
• Implement computer vision techniques, including semantic segmentation, instance segmentation, and 3D reconstruction, to support autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance.
• Collaborate with GNC and autonomy teams to integrate perception outputs into navigation, planning, and control systems.
• Build and deploy real-time perception software for embedded systems, validated through software-in-the-loop (SITL), hardware-in-the-loop (HITL), and flight tests.
• Optimize algorithms to handle challenges such as sensor noise, dynamic lighting, occlusion, and high-speed flight dynamics.
• Develop testing and validation frameworks using simulations and real-world flight testing to ensure perception system reliability.
• Leverage AI/ML models (e.g., deep learning for object detection and tracking) to enhance perception performance.
• Ensure perception systems meet defense standards for resilience against environmental challenges and adversarial threats.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in perception system development for autonomous systems, such as those in automotive, robotics, or aerospace applications.
• Expertise in computer vision, including object detection, tracking, semantic segmentation, and 3D scene understanding.
• Proficiency in sensor fusion with cameras, LiDAR, radar, and IMUs for real-time perception.
• Experience developing perception algorithms in Python, C++, or similar languages for embedded systems.
• Strong understanding of machine learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch) for perception tasks.
• Hands-on experience with sensor hardware, including camera calibration, LiDAR integration, and radar processing.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field. PhD is a plus.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience adapting perception systems for aerospace applications, including high-speed or high-altitude environments.
• Familiarity with defense standards for autonomous systems and resilient perception.
• Expertise in optimizing deep learning models for real-time performance on resource-constrained platforms.
• Hands-on experience with flight testing or real-world validation of perception systems.
• Knowledge of perception error modeling and mitigation for dynamic environments.
• Proficiency with tools like OpenCV, ROS, PCL, or Gazebo for perception development.
  
  

Disclosures

This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Please note that any offer for employment may be conditioned on authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license.

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and training, critical skills, and business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in most offers and are considered part of Mach’s total compensation package. Mach offers benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Mach is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. If you’d like to defend the American way of life, please reach out!