# Perception Engineer, Staff

**Company:** [9 Mothers](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/9-mothers)
**Location:** Austin, TX
**Role:** ML Engineering
**Salary:** $250k – $400k/yr
**Experience:** 6+ years
**Skills:** Computer Vision, PyTorch, JAX, Python, C++, Rust, TensorRT, Nvidia Jetson, Machine Learning, Multi-Object Tracking
**Posted:** 2026-04-23

> Leads development and deployment of computer vision and ML models for real-time drone detection, tracking, and classification on edge hardware. Requires 6+ years experience with production CV/ML systems under latency constraints, proficiency in Python/C++/Rust, and PyTorch/JAX.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Own the visual perception pipeline end-to-end, including detection, classification, and tracking of sUAS targets in real time.
- Design and train machine learning models that meet latency and accuracy requirements for edge deployment on Jetson-class hardware.
- Architect and maintain the dataset and simulation pipeline, including data collection, labeling, curation, augmentation, synthetic data generation, and closed-loop retraining based on field performance.
- Optimize inference performance on Jetson platforms, including model pruning, quantization, **TensorRT** integration, and custom kernel development as required.
- Establish the model evaluation framework and metrics used to assess perception performance under operational conditions.
- Deliver target state information (position, velocity, identity, uncertainty) to the controls subsystem.
- Collaborate with the hardware team on camera, optics, and sensor selection.

## Requirements
- 6+ years of professional experience in computer vision or machine learning, including production deployment on edge hardware.
- Demonstrated experience shipping a detection or tracking system under real-world latency, small-object, or adversarial constraints.
- Strong engineering skills beyond modeling, including experience with **PyTorch** or **JAX** through to deployed, optimized inference.
- Proficiency in **Python** for model development and **C++** or **Rust** for deployed inference.
- U.S. citizenship and ability to pass a background check.

## Preferred Qualifications
- **TensorRT** and **NVIDIA Jetson** deployment experience at production scale.
- Multi-object tracking under challenging conditions.
- Multi-modal sensor fusion experience (**EO/IR**, radar, acoustic).
- Synthetic data generation and sim-to-real methodologies.
- Prior experience in defense or other safety-critical computer vision applications.
- Active security clearance, or eligibility to obtain one.

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