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Apptronik is seeking a Staff Perception Hardware Engineer to serve as the execution leader for Apollo's perception hardware systems. Apollo is a humanoid robot powered by applied AI, designed to collaborate with people in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and beyond.
In this role, you will own the end-to-end physical integration of the robot's visual perception stack, driving the transition from prototype designs to production-ready camera assemblies. You will lead hands-on integration, aggressive troubleshooting, and validation of high-performance cameras, complex optics, and multi-gigabit data links on a moving, vibrating humanoid platform.
Key responsibilities include:
• End-to-End System Execution: Lead physical integration of the perception stack, ensuring FOV, thermal, and mechanical stability targets are met on production hardware.
• Custom Module Development: Define electrical, optical, and mechanical specifications for custom sensor modules when off-the-shelf components fall short. Drive external optical vendors and contract manufacturers through the build process.
• Bring-Up & Validation: Architect comprehensive bring-up, DVT, and End-of-Line test plans for custom sensor modules, ensuring rigorous validation before integration.
• ISP Tuning & Image Quality: Take ownership of image quality on the actual robot. Perform hands-on ISP tuning (auto-exposure, white balance, tone mapping) in real-world environments to satisfy ML model requirements and low-latency teleoperator needs.
• High-Speed Bring-Up & Debugging: Lead electrical bring-up of multi-gigabit video backbone (GMSL2/3, FPD-Link). Serve as escalation point for complex EMI/EMC debugging using high-speed oscilloscopes and analyzers.
• Synchronization & Calibration: Implement and measure hardware-level synchronization across cameras, LiDAR, and IMUs. Design and deploy calibration fixtures and algorithms, troubleshooting intrinsic/extrinsic drift issues from lab to factory floor.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Act as technical adjudicator between Industrial Design, Mechanical, and Thermal teams. Drive physical testing to resolve conflicts between aesthetics, sensor FOV, and thermal dissipation.
• Technical Mentorship: Lead cross-functional problem-solving for critical hardware bugs. Mentor engineers in rigorous physical testing and root-cause analysis.
Required qualifications include proven track record shipping complex perception hardware from breadboard through DVT to mass production, vendor management experience with optical vendors and CMs, and expert-level proficiency with high-end lab equipment and troubleshooting methodologies.
