Back to jobs

Perception Engineer

Bristol, Rhode Island

Perception Engineer 

About Vatn Systems:

Vatn Systems is an innovative startup at the forefront of designing and manufacturing autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Our mission is to revolutionize underwater security, exploration, research, and operations through cutting-edge technology and unparalleled engineering. Our AUVs are defining the next generation of underwater autonomy.

The Role

As a Perception Engineer, you'll develop and improve the perception stack that powers our self-driving vehicles. Working hands-on with sonar and image data, you'll help build robust pipelines for detecting and tracking. You'll work closely with the autonomy team to integrate perception capabilities into bespoke behaviors, unlocking novel capabilities.

What You'll Do

  • Implement and maintain real-time perception pipelines on autonomous vehicle platforms.
  • Develop algorithms for obstacle detection, classification, and multi-object tracking.
  • Write and maintain ROS 2 nodes and packages for on-vehicle perception software.
  • Utilize Python and C++ to develop and implement algorithms for obstacle detection, classification, and multi-object tracking.
  • Participate in on-site vehicle testing and debugging of real-world perception failures.
  • Collaborate with localization, prediction, and planning teams to ensure clean perception interfaces.

What We're Looking For

Required

  • 3–5 years of experience in robotics perception, computer vision, or autonomous systems.
  • Strong Python skills for prototyping, scripting, and ML workflows.
  • Solid ROS / ROS 2 experience, experience with commercial grade robotic systems.
  • Proficient in C++ for real-time, production-grade robotics software.
  • Experience with 3D sensor data — LiDAR point clouds, depth estimation, or multi-sensor fusion. Marine sensor experience is a big plus!
  • Working knowledge of deep learning frameworks (PyTorch preferred) for detection or segmentation tasks.
  • Working knowledge of classical data-driven perception techniques.
  • Understanding of 3D geometry, sensor calibration, and coordinate frame transformations.
  • Willingness to work on-site and participate in physical vehicle test sessions.
  • US Citizen and ability to gain a security clearance.

Preferred

  • Exposure to Rust for systems programming or robotics tooling.
  • Familiarity with AV-specific perception challenges: moving object tracking, occlusion handling, sensor degradation in adverse weather, GPS-denied localization.
  • Knowledge of TensorRT or other inference optimization tools for real-time deployment.
  • Understanding of AV safety standards or safety-critical software development practices.

Nice to Have

  • Prior experience at a startup and/or defense company.
  • Experience deploying perception models on embedded automotive hardware (Drive AGX, Jetson, etc.)

Vatn is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We look forward to reviewing your application and potentially having you join our team in shaping the future of autonomous underwater vehicles.

 

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Vatn Systems’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...