Staff Systems Engineer - Perception

Apptronik is seeking a Staff Systems Engineer to own the system-level architecture requirements and performance of Apollo’s perception suite. In this role you are the technical connective tissue between the Autonomy software team and the Hardware engineering teams. You will translate high-level autonomy capabilities (e.g. "the robot must safely grasp a moving object" or "navigate a cluttered warehouse") into rigorous verifiable system requirements (latency budgets field-of-view mapping resolution and compute allocation). As a Staff-level leader you will drive complex trade studies define Interface Control Documents (ICDs) establish the Verification and Validation (V&V) strategy and ensure the perception system meets the stringent functional safety standards required for a humanoid robot operating alongside humans.

• System Architecture: Define the top-level architecture for the robot's perception system balancing the needs of Visual-Inertial Odometry (VIO) manipulation obstacle avoidance and remote teleoperation.
• Trade Studies: Lead data-driven trade studies to adjudicate complex architectural decisions (e.g. Stereo Vision vs. LiDAR for close-range manipulation edge-compute vs. centralized processing global vs. rolling shutter).
• Budget Ownership: Own and manage critical system budgets including photon-to-action latency compute utilization (TOPS) memory bandwidth and spatial Field of View (FOV) coverage.

• Requirements Flow-Down: Elicit define and manage perception system requirements using enterprise tools (e.g. Jama Polarion or DOORS). Decompose product-level goals into strict hardware and software specifications.
• Interface Management: Author and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) that define the boundaries between perception sensors the compute cluster and the autonomy software stack. Ensure complete alignment across multi-disciplinary teams.

• V&V Strategy: Architect the master Verification and Validation plan for the perception stack. Define the KPIs and test methodologies required to prove that the system meets its requirements in real-world dynamic environments.
• Functional Safety (ISO 13849 / IEC 61508): Partner with the Safety team to perform Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessments (HARA) related to perception. Define the safety-critical detection zones fail-safe degradation states and hardware redundancy requirements.

• Technical Adjudication: Act as the ultimate technical adjudicator when conflicts arise between the Autonomy team's desires and the Hardware team's constraints (e.g. thermal limits mechanical packaging payload capacity).
• Mentorship: Elevate the systems engineering rigor across the company mentoring engineers in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies and rigorous requirement writing.

• Perception Domain Expertise: Deep understanding of modern perception modalities (Cameras LiDAR Radar ToF IMU) and the fundamental physics error models and integration challenges of each.
• Autonomy Familiarity: Strong working knowledge of how perception data is consumed by downstream algorithms (SLAM object detection kinematic planning sensor fusion).
• Systems Rigor: Proven track record of managing complex requirements traceability and V&V matrices for shipped products. 
• Analytical Skills: Ability to build mathematical models in Python or MATLAB to simulate system-level latency FOV coverage or optical performance to inform early-stage architecture.

• Experience: 8+ years of experience in Systems Engineering for complex 
• Education: BS MS or PhD in Systems Engineering Robotics Electrical Engineering Computer Science or a related field.electromechanical systems autonomous vehicles aerospace or advanced robotics.

• 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

What We Do

Apptronik is building robots for the real world to improve human quality of life and to help solve the ever-increasing labor shortage problem. Our team has been building some of the most advanced robots on the planet for years dating back to the DARPA Robotics Challenge. We apply our expertise across the full robotics stack to some of the most important and impactful problems our society faces and expect our products and technology to change the world for the better. We value passion creativity and collaboration to help us overcome existing technological barriers in the industry to create truly innovative products.

Why Work With Us

At Apptronik we don't see a future where man competes against machine. Instead we envision a harmonious world where man and machine coexist. Our mission statement "It is not Man vs. Machine but Man + Machine" encapsulates our belief that the synergy between humans and robots will pave the way for a brighter more advanced future.

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