Charles River Analytics

Senior Software Engineer - Computer Vision and Autonomy Lead

Charles River Analytics$175K — $225K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field; master's degree preferred.
  • 10+ years of experience in computer vision, perception, or autonomy development.
  • Proficiency in Python and C++ for both research and production quality software.
  • Experience with robotics frameworks (e.g., ROS2) and simulation environments.
  • Demonstrated expertise in key computer vision technologies (object detection, SLAM, etc.).
  • Familiarity with system integration and distributed debugging practices.
  • Ability to obtain U.S. Government Security Clearance and willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

  • Provide technical leadership for computer vision and autonomy algorithm development.
  • Lead and mentor a team of engineers in computer vision and sensing fields.
  • Develop maintainable software for object detection, SLAM, and sensor fusion.
  • Optimize machine learning models for embedded real-time systems.
  • Oversee system architecture, technical reviews, and engineering best practices.
  • Collaborate with subject matter experts to define and implement technical solutions.
  • Engage in customer interactions for technical briefings and integration activities.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead and shape a team within a rapidly evolving field.
  • Hybrid work schedule with flexible in-office requirements.
  • Chance to work on cutting-edge projects in robotic systems and AI.
  • Substantial employee benefits beyond competitive salary offerings.
Full Job Description
We are seeking a Senior Software Engineering Leader to provide technical leadership, architectural guidance, and team management for projects involving robotic navigation, autonomous systems, and advanced sensor processing. This position includes both senior-level technical responsibilities and the future opportunity to lead a team of engineers. The ideal candidate demonstrates deep expertise in computer vision and autonomy, strong communication skills, and an interest in developing and mentoring engineering staff.

How you will make an impact:
  • Provide technical leadership in the design, development, and integration of our existing computer vision and autonomy algorithms and software systems.
  • Lead and mentor a team of computer vision, perception, and autonomy engineers; support hiring, onboarding, performance feedback, time management, and professional development.
  • Develop robust, maintainable software solutions for applications such as object detection and tracking, SLAM, visual odometry, sensor fusion, and image processing.
  • Optimize and deploy machine learning models on embedded, edge, and real-time systems using frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
  • Oversee system architecture, technical reviews, code quality, and adherence to engineering best practices.
  • Collaborate with scientists, engineers, and operational subject matter experts to define technical requirements and translate research concepts into implementable solutions serving the ground, sea, air and space domains.
  • Participate in customer engagements, including technical briefings, requirements discussions, field testing, and integration activities.
  • Contribute to proposal development, technical documentation, reports, and transition planning for applied research and product development programs.
  • Support the growth and scaling of internal technical capabilities to meet emerging program and commercialization needs.

What you need:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field; a master's degree or equivalent experience is preferred.
  • 10 or more years of experience (or a master's degree with 8 or more years) in computer vision, perception, or autonomy system development.
  • Proficiency in Python and C++ with experience developing both research prototypes and production quality software.
  • Experience working with robotics frameworks such as ROS2 and simulation environments.
  • Demonstrated expertise in several key areas of computer vision, including object detection, tracking, SLAM, visual odometry, segmentation, or related fields.
  • Experience conducting laboratory and field testing of robotic or autonomous systems.
  • Familiarity with networking, system integration, and distributed system debugging.
  • Strong understanding of software development best practices, including testing, version control, and code review processes.
  • Demonstrated interest in technical team leadership and the ability to support the development of engineering talent.
  • Ability and willingness to travel for customer meetings, integration events, and field exercises.
  • U.S. Citizenship.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance.
  • Ability to work on a hybrid schedule with at least 60% in-office presence at our Cambridge headquarters.

Our ideal candidate has:
  • Experience with systems engineering, requirements analysis, and system level design.
  • Experience with CI/CD pipelines or modern DevOps/DevSecOps methodologies.
  • Experience with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes, Helm)
  • Experience integrating complex software systems into larger systems (APIs, communication).
  • Familiarity with tools such as OpenCV, PyTorch, TensorFlow, and CUDA.
  • Experience with data engineering practices and management of large datasets.
  • Experience preparing technical deliverables such as specifications, reports, or contributions to academic publications.

Salary Range

$175,000 - $225,000

The above salary range is an estimate based on the internal job level(s) for which this role is being considered. The final salary will be decided after careful evaluation of the individual's work experience, education, and overall qualifications. This range does not include the substantial total rewards, as listed below, that you will also be eligible for as an employee at Charles River Analytics.

About Charles River Analytics

Charles River Analytics is a research and development company that specializes in artificial intelligence and machine learning. The company was founded in 1983 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Charles River Analytics works with government agencies and private companies to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. The company has a diverse portfolio of projects, including autonomous systems, human-machine teaming, and decision support systems.
Learn more about Charles River Analytics
Size
400 employees
Industry

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