Software Engineer (Perception/Autonomy)

Parallel Systems (Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA)

Rust Software Engineer Perception Autonomy Robotics Computer Vision Sensor Fusion SLAM Navigation Los Angeles Onsite Full-Time Railroad Autonomous Vehicles C++ AI Engineer Staff Engineer Robotics

Company: Parallel Systems is a Series B funded (~$38M) startup based in the Arts District of LA, focused on bringing electric and autonomous solutions to the railroad. We're fundamentally changing how the railroad is perceived and migrating freight from trucking to rail, requiring a high level of creativity to adapt legacy systems to modern solutions. Our team fosters a culture of inclusion, ownership, and technical excellence.

Role: We are seeking a strong Software Engineer to contribute to the perception and autonomy stack for our autonomous rail vehicles. You will have a high level of ownership and bring innovation to the table. This role involves developing algorithms and software for sensor fusion, object detection, localization, and path planning specifically tailored for the rail environment.

Responsibilities:
- Develop, implement, and test perception algorithms using various sensors (cameras, lidar, radar, IMU, GPS).
- Work on sensor fusion techniques to create a robust understanding of the vehicle's environment.
- Contribute to localization and mapping solutions for precise positioning on the rail network.
- Develop and refine algorithms for autonomous navigation and control on rail.
- Collaborate closely with hardware and controls teams.
- Optimize software for real-time performance on embedded systems.

Requirements:
- Strong proficiency in software development, ideally with Rust (our primary language) and/or C++.
- Experience in robotics, computer vision, sensor fusion, SLAM, or autonomous vehicle navigation.
- Solid understanding of algorithms, data structures, and mathematical concepts relevant to perception and autonomy (e.g., linear algebra, probability, Kalman filters).
- Experience with robotics frameworks (like ROS) is a plus.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced startup environment.
- Based in or willing to relocate to Los Angeles, CA (Onsite with Flex Fridays).

Ideal Candidate: An engineer with a background in robotics or autonomous systems, eager to apply their skills to the unique challenges of rail automation. You are passionate about building safe, reliable autonomous systems and pushing the boundaries of perception technology.