Sr. Software Engineer, Perception Data Infrastructure

Mountain View, California (hq)Full TimeSeniorPosted 2 months ago

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Role summary

We are seeking a Senior Perception ML Data Infrastructure Engineer to bridge the gap between autonomous vehicle hardware, human labeling, and ML models. You will own the core native perception data platform, dealing with massive 3D point clouds and complex sensor data. The role involves designing and advancing systems for efficient data manipulation, parsing, pipeline propagation, and validation. You will establish strict API boundaries and build pragmatic infrastructure to ensure ML models learn from high-quality data. This position requires C++ fluency, strong Python familiarity, and experience in building robust, high-performance software systems. Bonus points for robotics expertise and 3D graphics/rendering familiarity.

About the Role

We are a team of high-output generalists where ML and systems engineering converge to push autonomy performance forward. As a Senior Perception ML Data Infrastructure Engineer, you will own the critical bridge between our autonomous vehicle hardware, our human labeling operations, and our ML models.

You will take ownership of our core native perception data platform. This is not a standard web development role; the stack is deeply adjacent to our core robotics infrastructure. You will be dealing with massive, dense 3D point clouds at a scale that pushes the boundaries of industry state-of-the-art, alongside complex sensor parsing, pipeline propagation, and rigid performance constraints. You will operate in highly ambiguous environments, inheriting complex systems, establishing strict API boundaries, and building the "good enough, fast enough" infrastructure that guarantees our ML models learn from high-quality data.

Design and advance systems that:

Render and manipulate massive, multi-modal sensor datasets (Lidar, Camera, Radar) efficiently in UI environments.

Parse raw sensor data and manage complex data pipeline propagation between onboard hardware logs and offboard visualization.

Enforce strict data validation and annotation constraints to prevent upstream labeling errors from polluting downstream ML pipelines.

Create seamless, resilient API boundaries between our ML data pipelines and our Ground Truth/Data Platform infrastructure.

Tailor Your Impact:

The Critical Path Owner: You will step into a complex, evolving ecosystem, quickly bring order to ambiguity, unblock critical operational bottlenecks, and architect sustainable long-term solutions that empower the entire Autonomy organization.

High-Velocity Impact: You optimize the engineering lifecycle for autonomy progress. You know the exact trade-off between over-engineering a system and deploying a highly performant, pragmatic integration that keeps our data pipelines flowing.

About the work

You’ll solve autonomy’s hardest data bottlenecks through systems rigor and infrastructure excellence:

Architect Core Data Platforms: Take formal technical ownership of our native, C++ based perception data visualization and annotation platforms.

Optimize 3D Rendering & Robotics Data: Solve deep performance bottlenecks related to rendering next-generation, high-density Lidar point clouds and multi-camera projections in real-time.

Defensive Engineering: Build robust data validation layers that catch sensor calibration errors, synchronization failures, and human labeling mistakes before they enter the ML training loop.

Cross-Functional Leadership: Act as the technical bridge between ML, Data and Infrastructure engineers, and labeling operations.

About You

BS/MS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Robotics, or a related quantitative field.

Experience: 4+ years of industry software engineering experience.

Language Fluency. Fluency in C++ and strong familiarity with Python are non-negotiable.

Ambiguity Navigator: Proven ability to lead cross-functional technical projects, bring order to complex codebases, and drive them to completion in ambiguous settings.

Systems Thinker: You possess deep practical experience in building robust, high-performance software systems or infrastructure. You care more about shipping integrated, impactful solutions than theoretical experimentation.

(Bonus) Robotics Expertise: Deep familiarity with robotics software stacks, sensor parsing, coordinate frames, and pipeline propagation.

(Bonus) Familiarity with 3D graphics/rendering (WebGL, OpenGL), point cloud processing, or autonomous driving sensor data.

At Nuro, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. For this position, the reasonably expected pay range is between $193,930.00 and $291,150.00/year for the level at which this job has been scoped. Your base pay will depend on several factors, including your experience, qualifications, education, location, and skills. In the event that you are considered for a different level, a higher or lower pay range would apply. This position is also eligible for an annual performance bonus, equity, and a competitive benefits package.

At Nuro, we celebrate differences and are committed to a diverse workplace that fosters inclusion and psychological safety for all employees. Nuro is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and expressly prohibits any form of workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics. #LI-DNP

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