Senior Perception Engineer (Autonomous Drones) - C++/Computer Vision

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for a Senior Perception Engineer to co-own and advance the production perception stack for autonomous drones. You’ll develop real-time C++ systems that combine learned visual detections with multi-object tracking, camera geometry, vehicle state, and monocular 3D target estimation. The role is focused on real world and deployable software: translating algorithms and models into maintainable onboard components, validating them on recorded and live flight data, and diagnosing failures across the complete perception pipeline.

The day-to-day

• Design, implement, and maintain production C++ perception components for camera-based detection, tracking, target localization, and trajectory estimation on autonomous drones.

• Develop and improve multi-object tracking, data association, motion models, filtering, uncertainty propagation, track management, and fusion of detector and single-object-tracker outputs.

• Estimate target position and motion in world coordinates by fusing monocular vision with vehicle-state and navigation data, accounting for timing, uncertainty, latency, and degraded sensor states.

• Integrate and optimize neural-network models in the production C++ pipeline using ONNX, TensorRT, CUDA, and NVIDIA Jetson.

• Analyze recorded flight data and systematically reproduce and diagnose field failures.

• Define robust software interfaces and engineering standards, conduct design and code reviews, communicate clearly across disciplines, and collaborate effectively with ML, autonomy, simulation, and flight-test teams.

You should apply if you

• Strong programming skills and experience designing, testing, and maintaining performance-sensitive production software.

• Hands-on experience shipping perception, state-estimation, localization, or tracking software on real robotic systems.

• Strong understanding of linear algebra, rigid-body transformations, coordinate frames, and projective geometry.

• Experience with probabilistic estimation, Kalman filtering or related estimators, uncertainty modeling, motion models, and sensor fusion.

• Ability to integrate learned models into a broader perception system and reason about preprocessing, output semantics, failure modes, latency, and model-to-system trade-offs.

• Good understanding of algorithms and data structures, strong software architecture judgment, and a track record of independently owning complex technical systems.

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• Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to mentor engineers and collaborate across perception, ML, autonomy, embedded, and flight-test teams.

Nice to haves

• Experience with aerial / drone (UAV) perception, target tracking, geolocation, or autonomous aircraft.

• Familiarity with ROS 2, PX4, ArduPilot, MAVLink, or comparable robotics and flight-control software stacks.

• Edge / real-time deployment experience with NVIDIA Jetson, TensorRT, CUDA, VPI, GStreamer, or hardware-accelerated camera pipelines.

• Visual-inertial odometry (VIO), visual SLAM, structure-from-motion, factor graphs, bundle adjustment, or GNSS-denied navigation.

• Experience with NVIDIA Isaac Sim, software-in-the-loop / hardware-in-the-loop testing, synthetic data, or simulation-based validation.

• Experience with low-light, thermal, EO/IR, fisheye, gimbal-mounted, or long-range imaging systems.

What we offer

Real impact & ownership: Shape high-tech defense systems and take responsibility from day one

Mission-driven environment: Work on technologies that matter for European security and sovereignty

Competitive package: Competitive salary, EGYM Wellpass, corporate benefits, and equity options aligned with role and level

Deep tech environment: Get hands-on experience with cutting-edge drone technology and real operational use cases

Grow fast: Steep learning curve for juniors, strategic influence and leadership opportunities for seniors

Startup mindset meets defence innovation: flat hierarchies, fast decisions, and space for your ideas.

Flexibility: Flexible hours, remote options, and relocation support

Strong team: International, driven colleagues and a culture built on exchange, trust, and shared success