Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, or related field
12+ years building and shipping large-scale robotics or AI software
Proven experience leading and scaling software teams
Deep technical background in perception and robotics software
Hands-on software architecture for complex, real-time systems
Experience deploying software to field robotic systems with OTA updates
Understanding of software quality and operational best practices
Responsibilities
Own software productization strategy for AI solutions
Lead development of production-ready software platforms and SDKs
Partner with leadership to transition prototypes into scalable products
Define software architecture and API design for scalability
Build and mentor a high-performing software engineering organization
Establish best practices for software development and deployment
Work with cross-functional teams to align software capabilities with market needs
Benefits
Competitive salary and equity
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
401(k) retirement plan
Flexible vacation and time-off policy
Collaborative, fast-paced, and inclusive work environment
Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies with a cross-functional team
Full Job Description
About the role
We are seeking a Director / VP of Perception & Physical AI Software to lead the productization, deployment, and scaling of our perception and physical AI technologies. This role is responsible for transforming cutting-edge algorithms into robust, production-grade software platforms that can be deployed, updated, and supported across customer environments at scale. This is a highly technical leadership role for someone who has built and shipped complex autonomy or robotics software in the real world-and who can also attract, lead, and scale a world-class software organization. You will partner closely with the Head of Physical AI Algorithms to commercialize perception and AI capabilities as reliable software products, while setting the bar for software quality, velocity, and operational excellence.
What you'll do
Own the end-to-end software productization strategy for perception and physical AI solutions
Lead development of production-ready software platforms and SDKs built on top of perception and AI algorithms
Partner with the Physical AI / Algorithms leadership to transition research and prototypes into scalable, maintainable products
Define and drive software architecture, modularization, and API design for long-term scalability
Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing software engineering organization across perception, autonomy, infrastructure, and platform teams
Establish and enforce best practices for software development workflows; code quality, testing, and validation; release management and versioning; OTA updates and field deployment
Ensure software is reliable, observable, and debuggable in real-world deployments
Work closely with product, systems, hardware, applications, and customer teams to align software capabilities with market needs
Represent software strategy and execution at the executive and board level
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related technical field
12+ years of experience building and shipping large-scale robotics, autonomy, or AI software systems
Proven track record of shipping complex SW products to customers and supporting it
Proven track record of leading and scaling software teams that deliver production systems
Deep technical background in perception, robotics software, or autonomy stacks
Hands-on experience with software architecture and system design for complex, real-time systems
Experience deploying software to field robotic systems with OTA update mechanisms
Strong understanding of software quality, reliability, and operational best practices
Ability to remain technically engaged while operating at a strategic leadership level
Preferred Qualifications
Experience developing and deploying self-driving or humanoid robotics software (e.g., Tesla Autopilot / Optimus, Waymo, Cruise, Zoox, Boston Dynamics, etc.)
Background in perception, sensor fusion, and physical AI systems
Experience building commercial software platforms or SDKs for external customers
Familiarity with cloud-backed robotics infrastructure, telemetry, and fleet management
Experience scaling software from R&D to production and customer deployment
Strong intuition for balancing innovation speed with software robustness
Benefits (subject to location and local regulations)
Competitive salary and equity
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
401(k) retirement plan
Flexible vacation and time-off policy
Collaborative, fast-paced, and inclusive work environment
Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies with a highly cross-functional team
About Lyte
Lyte builds perception systems for Physical AI operating in complex environments. The company combines custom silicon, integrated sensors, and software into a unified platform for robotics, mobility, and next-generation automation. Lyte is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with a global presence. For more information, visit www.lyte.ai
If you're excited about building impactful technology in a dynamic, hands-on environment, we'd love to hear from you!
