Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, Optics, Mechatronics, or a related field.
8+ years of experience in optoelectronic or sensor systems engineering, ideally in lidar or active depth sensing.
Experience collaborating with architecture, hardware, software, and mechanical teams to develop system specifications.
Proficiency in system simulation, performance modeling, and data analysis.
Strong foundation in system physics including lasers, optics, and signal processing.
Scripting skills for modeling and test automation (Python preferred).
Hands-on experience with evaluating optical subsystems, including testing and debugging.
Responsibilities
Collaborate with teams to drive lidar specifications and decompose system targets into subsystem requirements.
Evaluate and characterize lidar technologies to define and measure key performance indicators.
Develop and test prototype modules, ensuring they meet performance and safety specifications.
Work with cross-functional teams to debug hardware and software issues and resolve data quality problems.
Support the transition of prototypes into manufacturing, including calibration and integration processes.
Benefits
Collaborative team environment.
Opportunity to work on cutting-edge lidar technology.
Involvement in prototype development and validation.
Supportive culture for cross-functional teamwork.
Onsite position encourages team synergy and communication.
Full Job Description
Senior Systems Engineer
We are looking for a Senior Systems Engineer to join our systems engineering team and collaborate with internal architecture, hardware, software, firmware, and mechanical teams to drive the specifications of AEye's lidar and its variants. You evaluate and characterize lidar technologies and products, develop physics-based models, build and test prototype modules and samples, and run lab and field tests to validate performance against specifications. Working across cross-functional teams, you help meet system-level targets, partnering with engineering, program, and business development. Key Responsibilities
Specification and requirements: collaborate with internal architecture, hardware, software, firmware, and mechanical teams to drive the specifications of the lidar and its variants. Help decompose system-level targets into subsystem requirements (EE / ME / FW / SW).
Evaluation and characterization: evaluate and characterize lidar technologies, subsystems, and products. Develop physics-based models to predict and assess performance, and define the KPIs (for example range, accuracy, false alarm rate, separability) used to measure it.
Prototyping and validation: define and work on prototype modules and samples, perform bench bring-ups, and execute lab and field tests to validate module performance against specifications, including environmental and eye-safety standards.
Cross-functional collaboration: work with cross-functional teams to meet system-level targets, debug hardware and software interfaces, and resolve data quality and point cloud issues at the system level.
Manufacturing transition: support the transition of prototypes through R&D validation into production, including production integration, calibration, and design-for-x.
Qualifications
Required
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, Optics, Mechatronics, or a related field.
8+ years of experience in optoelectronic or sensor systems engineering, preferably in lidar or active depth sensing.
Experience collaborating across architecture, hardware, software, and mechanical teams to drive system and subsystem specifications.
Proficiency in system simulation, performance modeling, and data analysis.
Strong grounding in the physics of the system: lasers and device physics, optics, and signal processing, together with the optical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal aspects of system design.
Proficiency in scripting for modeling, data analysis, and test automation (Python preferred).
Hands-on experience evaluating and characterizing optical or electro-optical subsystems, including prototype bring-up, lab and field testing, and common failure modes.
Experience with sensor calibration, production integration, and the transition of prototypes into production.
Strong technical documentation: requirements, specifications, test plans, and reports.
Preferred
MS. or Ph.D. in a related field.
Proficiency in C++ and the ability to read, debug, and modify production code, and experience developing algorithms for point cloud processing or calibration.
Familiarity with automotive functional safety and qualification standards (for example ISO 26262, AEC-Q, ASPICE, AUTOSAR, MISRA, V-Model, SAFe).
Experience with sensor fusion, time synchronization, and perception applications.
Experience across the full lifecycle of automotive, aerospace, or industrial sensor development and production.
Familiarity with ROS or ROS2.
Experience with automated test scripts and CI pipelines.
Comfortable working in Linux environments, including shell, networking basics, and log analysis.
Project management experience or certification (for example PMP).
Position is onsite a minimum of 3 days at our Pleasanton, CA Office
Base Annual Salary Range: $140K-180K
About AEye, Inc.
AEye is a technology company that develops advanced vision hardware, software and algorithms that act as the eyes and visual cortex of autonomous vehicles. AEye's iDAR (Intelligent Detection and Ranging) platform combines solid-state agile LiDAR, embedded AI, and fused camera sensors to enable vehicles to intelligently assess hazards and respond to changing conditions. The company was founded in 2013 by Luis Dussan and is headquartered in Dublin, California.
