Senior Robotics Software Engineer, Perception

About this role:

Pickle is seeking a dynamic, driven**Senior Robotics Engineer,**Perception, to revolutionize the future of warehouse automation. This role will focus on building out and hardening our multi-sensor perception engine. You will architect a hybrid stack that leverages the speed of C++ and the versatility of Python to process multimodal sensor data. Your work will directly enable our robots to navigate and manipulate objects with superhuman reliability in the messy, real-world environments of truck trailers and loading docks.

What You’ll Accomplish:

• Architect a Hybrid Perception Stack: You will design and implement a scalable perception architecture that leverages C++ for high-throughput, low-latency processing and Python for novel feature developments, ensuring seamless inter-process communication.
• Build Multi-Sensor Pipelines: You will build robust pipelines to fuse disparate data streams (RGB, Depth, LiDAR, Odometry) into a unified 3D world model, handling time synchronization and spatial alignment challenges to deliver a single source of truth for the robot.
• Optimize Data Throughput: You will identify bottlenecks in the data path—from driver level to decision—optimizing memory management and serialization in C++ to feed Python inference engines without stalling the control loop.
• Hardening for the Real World: You will turn research-grade sensor setups into production-grade systems, handling edge cases like sensor dropouts, occlusion, and lighting changes to guarantee 99.9% system uptime.

Who You Are:

• 5+ years of experience in robotics software engineering.
• Proven experience building mixed-language (C++/Python) stacks for robotics systems.
• Hands-on experience with sensor stacks, including RGB-D cameras, LiDARs, and IMUs.
• Strong foundation in 3D coordinate transforms and linear algebra.
• You are a "full-stack" robotics engineer. You don't just write the algorithm; you care about the driver that feeds it and the API that consumes it.
• You can articulate architectural trade-offs to drive the best system-level decisions.
• Expert in Modern C++ (17) and Python, with deep knowledge of binding and interfacing implementations (e.g., nanobind, interprocess communication), Linux (Ubuntu), Docker, CMake, and CI/CD pipelines for robotics.
• Location Requirement: This role is onsite at our HQ to work directly with the physical sensor rigs and robots.

Pay at Pickle

At Pickle Robot Company, we believe transparency builds trust. The salary range listed here is provided in accordance with Massachusetts law and reflects what we reasonably and in good faith expect to offer for this role. We often consider candidates at different levels of seniority, and final compensation will reflect the level at which a candidate is hired, along with factors like experience and location.

About Pickle Robot

Want to get in on the ground floor of a fast-growing, VC-backed robotics company? Join Pickle Robot! We build systems that companies and their teams love.

Pickle robots unload trucks. Every day, millions of trucks and containers are loaded and unloaded, often requiring manual labor—tough, dirty, dangerous, and hard to staff. Pickle automates this process using AI, machine learning, and robotics to deliver reliable products. Our Unload Systems work with teams on loading docks to make the job safer, faster, and more efficient.

Pickle provides best-in-class benefits including health, dental, & vision insurance; unlimited vacation, along with all federal and state holidays; 401K contributions of 5% your salary, travel supplies, and other items to make your working life more fun, comfortable, and productive.