Staff/Senior Staff Software Engineer – Perception

pony.ai is seeking a Staff or Senior Staff Software Engineer specialized in Perception to join our engineering team in Fremont, California. In this full-time role, you'll lead the design, development, and deployment of perception systems that power autonomous vehicle technology at scale.

Role Overview

As a Staff/Senior Staff Software Engineer - Perception at pony.ai, you'll own the architecture and technical excellence of our perception pipeline. This leadership engineering position focuses on driving innovation in computer vision, sensor fusion, and 3D object detection systems—capabilities fundamental to autonomous vehicle operation. You'll shape technical direction, mentor engineers, and establish standards for perception stack development.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop advanced perception algorithms for autonomous vehicle systems, including real-time object detection, tracking, and multi-sensor fusion
• Lead the architecture and evolution of perception software components, ensuring scalability, robustness, and performance across diverse scenarios
• Conduct technical reviews, establish engineering best practices, and mentor mid-level and junior engineers on the perception team
• Collaborate with planning, simulation, and data platform teams to integrate perception systems end-to-end
• Optimize perception models for latency and accuracy across varied sensor inputs and driving conditions
• Evaluate and incorporate emerging perception technologies and research methodologies into our systems

Skills & Qualifications

• Substantial expertise in computer vision, 3D object detection, or sensor fusion, with 8+ years of software engineering experience
• Proficiency in C++ and/or Python for high-performance systems development
• Demonstrated success designing and shipping perception systems in production environments
• Experience with deep learning frameworks, computer vision libraries, and data processing pipelines
• Strong system design and architectural reasoning skills
• Excellent communication and proven ability to lead cross-functional technical initiatives
• BS or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent professional experience

More About pony.ai

pony.ai is a leading autonomous vehicle technology company developing safe and scalable self-driving systems. Our Fremont, California headquarters is home to engineers advancing perception and planning for autonomous vehicles. We're building the technology foundation for transportation's future.

How to Apply

To apply, complete your application directly on this page, or you'll be redirected to the employer's application platform to finish submitting there.