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Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
Onsite
Boston Dynamics is a world leader in mobile robots, tackling some of the toughest challenges in mobility, manipulation, and autonomy. As we continue to advance our humanoid platforms, our ability to understand, interpret, and act within complex, unstructured environments is paramount.
We are looking for a Spatial Perception Engineer to join our team, sitting at the intersection of advanced sensor hardware, computer vision, and real-time robotic state estimation. You will be responsible for defining how our robots “see” the world—bridging the gap between raw optical inputs and the actionable environmental context required for our AI systems to perform mission-critical tasks. This is a critical role for the Atlas team, shaping the future of how our robots perceive, navigate, and interact with the physical world.
How You Will Make an Impact
Perception Architecture: Lead the architectural definition of multi-modal perception systems, balancing the integration of optical, and depth-sensing technologies with onboard compute and power constraints.
Sensor Fusion & Calibration: Develop and deploy manufacturing-ready, end-to-end calibration solutions for perception suites, including algorithm test sequences and high-precision data processing pipelines.
Environmental Understanding: Collaborate with AI/ML teams to define hardware dependencies for next-generation perception features. Drive the characterization of imager and sensor performance through simulation studies and prototyping.
Testing & Validation: Own the development and execution of robust validation plans for perception systems. Design comprehensive testing to ensure performance excellence in diverse, challenging environments (e.g., varying lighting, dynamic occlusion, and complex clutter).
Technical Leadership: Act as a subject matter expert for perception hardware. Mentor engineers through design reviews and architectural best practices, ensuring our systems remain reliable, scalable, and safe.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the Systems Engineering, Software (VLA/VLM), and Actuation teams to define hardware-software interfaces that facilitate smooth, responsive robotic behavior.
What You Bring
Technical Depth: Deep experience architecting complex perception and imaging systems, including expertise in sensor physics, MTF, distortion, chromatic aberration, and stray light control.
Engineering Proficiency: High level CAD proficiency (CATIA preferred or equivalent) for packaging and integration. Skilled in test automation and scripting (Python, C++).
Analytical Rigor: Proven ability to lead architectural trade studies and balance innovation, cost, reliability, and manufacturability.
Adaptability: Comfort operating in ambiguous problem spaces, rapidly pivoting to meet the needs of iterative hardware-software co-development.
Communication: Confident communicator, able to build consensus and influence technical direction across multiple disciplines (AI, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems) without direct authority.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
5+ years of experience in electromechanical hardware product development, with a specific focus on sensing or perception hardware.
Experience in rigorous prototyping, failure mode analysis (DFMEA), and production readiness for high-complexity robotic systems.
Familiarity with PLM systems and requirements management tools (e.g., Jama, Jira).
The base pay range for this position is between $130,000 to $190,000 annually. Base pay will depend on multiple individualized factors including, but not limited to internal equity, job related knowledge, skills and experience. This range represents a good faith estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Boston Dynamics offers a generous Benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401(k), paid time off and a annual bonus structure. Additional details regarding these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer for employment.