Senior Perception Engineer (San Francisco)

Perception Engineer

Perception Engineer at Chef Robotics, you will tackle sensor-focused challenges that directly shape the performance and reliability of our robots. Your work will be key to enhancing our robots' ability to understand and interact with their environment and will have ownership of projects ranging from integrating cutting-edge camera systems to developing advanced perception models.

As a small team, we are focused on building a positive in-office culture. We are looking for individuals who are available to work onsite at the office five days a week and can work start-up-oriented hours.

In this role, you will :

Explore and integrate new sensors, particularly cameras, to improve robot perception.

Develop and optimize perception models (detection, segmentation, classification) using classical and deep learning techniques.

Calibrate cameras and refine sensor alignment for accurate real-world performance.

Work on ML infrastructure, including data collection, annotation, and model training pipelines.

Implement sensor fusion techniques to combine data from multiple sources.

Develop tracking algorithms to improve object identification and movement prediction.

Manipulate 3D geometry, including point cloud processing and camera transforms.

Scale and refine the perception infrastructure to support our company's growth.

Collaborate with the robotics team to transition to modern platforms and technologies.

Develop new perception models to support expanding customer needs and meal types.

Improve and scale our perception infrastructure to meet growing demand.

Assist in integrating new cameras and sensors for enhanced robotic vision.

Contribute to system-wide improvements that increase efficiency and accuracy.

What You Bring :

BS, MS, or PhD in computer science, robotics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field.

Practical experience shipping working perception systems.

5+ years of research and industry experience in machine / deep learning and computer vision.

Strong proficiency in Python (core language for development).

Experience with deep learning frameworks (preferably PyTorch or TensorFlow).

Expertise in ROS (Robot Operating System) or similar robotics frameworks.

Hands-on experience working with hardware and sensors.

Strong software development skills, with a focus on deploying production-ready code.

Nice-to-have :

C++ proficiency for performance optimization.

Cloud development experience (Google Cloud or AWS).

Docker and containerization expertise.

Experience working in robotics start-ups or fast-paced environments.

Deep understanding of camera calibration and perception sensors.

150,000 - $225,000 a year

Chef is an early-stage startup where equity is a major part of the compensation package. As the company secures more capital, we will gradually increase salary and cash compensation. The starting salary will depend on seniority. In addition to salary and early-stage equity, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, commuter benefits, flexible paid time off (PTO), catered lunch, and 401(k) matching.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizen status, uniform service member and veteran status, marital status, age, pregnancy status, protected medical condition, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status. Multiple studies have found that a higher percentage of women and BIPOC candidates won't apply if they don't meet every listed qualification. Chef values candidates of all backgrounds. If you find yourself excited by our mission but you don't check every box in the description, we encourage you to apply anyway!