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Software Engineer I: Perception

Lodestar
Location
Los Angeles, US
Posted
13 days ago
Department
Engineering
Salary
$99,000 - $133,000
What they actually want (must-haves)
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in AI/ML, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field, or equivalent experience
  • 0–2 years of professional experience in machine learning, robotics, computer vision, or a related field
  • Solid software engineering skills in Python, and working proficiency in C++
  • Foundational DNN/ML knowledge and hands-on experience with computer vision or image processing libraries (e.g. OpenCV)
  • Demonstrated ability to take an ML model from training through to evaluation, in any setting
Nice to have
  • Experience developing or deploying ML models to real-time or resource-constrained systems
  • Broad understanding of modern perception systems and their architecture
  • Exposure to sensor measurements from RADAR, electro-optical sensors, RF sensors, or LIDAR
  • Familiarity with image processing techniques (e.g. feature extraction, segmentation, filtering, stereo matching)
  • Experience optimising neural networks or geometric algorithms using CUDA kernels, TensorRT, or other GPU acceleration frameworks
What the job really is

As a Software Engineer I - Perception at Lodestar, you will work on developing and refining algorithms for detecting and classifying space targets in real-time. You will collaborate with senior engineers to build perception models using computer vision, image processing, and machine learning, contributing to the autonomy software suite. This early-career role emphasizes ownership and growth within a supportive engineering culture.

Benefits
  • Pay Range for this role: (P1) Entry: $99,000 - $133,000 / year; (P2) Developing: $115,000 - $174,000 / year
  • Meaningful equity incentives as part of our employee option pool
  • Flexible PTO with generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave
  • Comprehensive medical, dental & vision coverage
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company match
Things to weigh
  • Early-career role with a focus on strong fundamentals and fast learning rather than extensive experience
  • The role involves working with complex and uncertain space environments which may present unique challenges
  • ITAR requirements necessitate U.S. citizenship or eligibility for required authorizations
  • Compensation bands are determined on a case-by-case basis, so individual offers may vary significantly
Job score4/5
Benefits3/5
Freshness4/5
Career value4/5
Role clarity4/5
Pay transparency5/5

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