Principal Software Engineer, Perception Architect
Verified live
Visa & eligibility
Accepts F-1 students
not published
Supports CPT
not published
Supports OPT
not published
Supports STEM OPT
not published
E-Verify employer
not published
Sponsorship stance
Unknown / not mentioned
The job
Location
Foster City, CA
Work setting
Hybrid
Hours per week
not published
Schedule
not published
Experience required
not published
New graduates accepted
not published
Skills mentioned
Compensation & benefits
Pay range
$410,000–$492,000/yr
Relocation assistance
not published
Health insurance
not published
Benefits mentioned in the posting
Applying
Application deadline
not published
Typical response time
not published
Number of applicants
not published
Posting verified
Verified live
Last checked
Sept. 23, 2026, 3:45 a.m.
Applies directly to employer
Yes
Apply on the employer's site →
Employer
Company
Zoox
Industry
Technology / Software
Company size
not published
Contact
not published
Contact email
not published
Source
Zoox
Full description
Be the visionary Perception Architect designing the sensory "nervous system" for our next generation of autonomous products. Evolve our end-to-end perception architecture, serving as the essential liaison between Sensing teams and the core ML system. Drive architectural evolution toward next-generation sensing and compute platforms by influencing Hardware-Software Co-Design.
In this role, you will:
System Synthesis:
Define the end-to-end perception architecture—assess new sensing (LiDAR, Radar, Camera) to the final fused world model.
Hardware-Software Co-Design:
Partner with Compute and Sensing teams to influence the design, ensuring our algorithms have the "computational oxygen" they need.
Algorithmic Strategy:
Lead the transition from current pipelines to
AI innovation pipelines,
while maintaining the safety and interpretability required for edge deployment.
Future-Proofing:
Evaluate emerging technologies and determine their viability for the 3-5 year roadmap.
Performance Budgeting:
Collaborate on rigorous metrics for latency and accuracy across diverse edge-computing environments.
Lead cross functional teams:
to create a viable plan to move to new platforms and unlock further technical capabilities for Perception systems. Coordinate projects across partner teams to make sure work is aligned with the overall org direction.
Qualifications
Education:
Ph.D. or MS in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with a focus on
Computer Vision
.
Experience:
8+ years in autonomous systems with at least 2 years in an
architectural role
, shipping and evolving perception systems
Deep Domain Expertise:
Mastery of systems focused on Computer Vision, Deep learning, Foundational models, Sensor Fusion, and State Estimation (SLAM, EKF/UKF). Deep understanding of sensor modalities and their impact to perception/autonomy systems, including: Camera, lidar, radar.
Platform Proficiency:
Deep understanding of hardware acceleration, component budgeting and transition to new platforms.
Mathematical Rigor:
Strong foundation in 3D geometry, linear algebra, and probabilistic robotics.
Hands on Skills:
Proficiency in
C++
(production-grade) and
Python
(rapid prototyping). Ability to run experiments across system components and run metrics platforms.
Soft Skills:
Curious, Data driven, with ability to translate complex technical trade-offs to non-technical stakeholders and
executive leadership
.
Eligibility signals are matched from the employer's own wording and shown with the source text so you can check them. A blank field means the posting did not say — not that the answer is no.
This is informational only and is not immigration advice. Confirm your work authorization with your DSO before accepting any role.