Principal Software Engineer, Perception Architect (Computer Vision)

TL;DR

Principal Software Engineer, Perception Architect (Computer Vision): Designing the end-to-end sensory perception architecture for next-generation autonomous products with an accent on hardware-software co-design and sensor fusion. Focus on evolving AI innovation pipelines, optimizing performance budgets for edge computing, and leading cross-functional teams to implement new compute platforms.

Location: Hybrid in Foster City, CA

Salary: $363,000 - $470,000 (Base Salary)

Company

Zoox is developing next-generation autonomous transportation to transform how people move in cities.

What you will do

• Define the end-to-end perception architecture from raw sensing (LiDAR, Radar, Camera) to the final fused world model.
• Partner with Compute and Sensing teams on hardware-software co-design to ensure algorithms have sufficient computational resources.
• Lead the transition from current pipelines to AI innovation pipelines while maintaining safety and interpretability for edge deployment.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and define their viability for the 3-5 year technical roadmap.
• Establish and collaborate on rigorous performance metrics for latency and accuracy across edge-computing environments.
• Lead cross-functional teams to create viable plans for platform migration and unlock new technical capabilities.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or MS in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with a focus on Computer Vision.
• 8+ years of experience in autonomous systems, including at least 2 years in an architectural role shipping perception systems.
• Mastery of Computer Vision, Deep Learning, Foundational models, Sensor Fusion, and State Estimation (SLAM, EKF/UKF).
• Deep understanding of sensor modalities (Camera, LiDAR, Radar) and hardware acceleration.
• Strong mathematical foundation in 3D geometry, linear algebra, and probabilistic robotics.
• Production-grade proficiency in C++ and rapid prototyping skills in Python.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including health, long-term care, disability, and life insurance.
• Competitive equity components via Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights.
• Paid time off including vacation, sick leave, and bereavement.
• Potential for a sign-on bonus as part of the compensation package.