System Engineer - Poway, CA

Are you ready to take the helm in shaping the future of tactical mission autonomy, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with trailblazers who are turning cutting-edge dreams into tangible reality? As a vital member of the growing EpiSci team, your influence will be immediate and transformative as we propel towards a future where security and autonomy unite in unprecedented ways.  EpiSci isn't just another company; we're a rapidly ascending force of innovation, forging ahead with next-gen tactical mission autonomy technologies that span defense, aerospace, and commercial domains. At our core, we wield the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, autonomy algorithms, wireless communications, and digital signal processing to surmount the most formidable national security challenges. Our Tactical AI prowess is nothing short of extraordinary, offering robustness, dependability, and a rapid adaptability that thrives on the frontlines of emerging missions and obstacles. Picture developing AI aviators for cutting-edge aircraft like the F-22 and F-16, revolutionizing wireless tactical communication systems, and fueling the skies with swarms of autonomous UAVs supercharged by sensor fusion.  
As a Systems Engineer at EpiSci, your role is critical. You'll deploy and validate software on hardware platforms, focusing on autonomous vehicles or robotics. This position requires both field and office-based work, with significant time spent deploying and testing software on autonomous vehicles in real-world environments. We understand and cherish the richness that diverse perspectives and backgrounds bring to the table. At EpiSci, we wholeheartedly invite every exceptional individual, regardless of their journey, to join our ranks and become a driving force behind the secure and autonomous world of tomorrow. Your future at EpiSci awaits—ignite your potential and let's redefine what's possible, together.  Don't meet every single requirement? At EpiSci, we're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workforce, so if you're excited about this role but your previous experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway! You may be the perfect candidate for this or another role at EpiSci. 

Core Responsibilities

• System Engineering: Develop, deploy, and validate software systems on autonomous vehicles, focusing on robotics, sensors, and vehicle autopilots.
• Field Deployment & Testing: Participate in hands-on fieldwork, deploying software on vehicles and ensuring proper functionality in dynamic, real-world environments.
• Interfacing with Sensors and Autopilots: Work directly with sensors (e.g., RADAR, cameras, GPS) and vehicle autopilot systems, integrating them into the autonomous vehicle framework.
• Perception & Autonomous Modules: Deploy and optimize perception pipelines (computer vision, sensor fusion) and collaborative autonomy systems, ensuring robust and safe vehicle operation.
• Communication Systems: Address inter-vehicle communication, ensuring seamless data exchange between vehicles for collaborative autonomous operations.
• Third-Party Software Integration: Interface with and integrate third-party software and APIs into our systems.
• AI and Machine Learning Integration: Develop, test, and refine AI-driven systems that enable autonomous decision-making and perception capabilities.
• Software Quality & CI/CD: Work on software integration, Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) processes, and implement system-related improvements to enhance system performance and reliability.
• Simulation & Testing: Leverage simulation environments to test vehicle systems, validating software behavior in various scenarios before field deployment.
• Collaboration & Documentation: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, data scientists, and field operators, to ensure the successful deployment of systems. Document processes and provide updates on system status and improvements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education
• MS or PhD in Robotic Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Optimization, or equivalent OR 5 years of relevant experience designing multi-agent autonomy 


• Technical  
• Strong proficiency in Linux and command-line tools.
• Strong proficiency in Python and/or C++.
• Hands-on experience with robotic systems, sensors (such as RADAR, cameras, radar), and vehicle autopilots (e.g., PX4, ROS).
• Familiarity with AI frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, OpenCV, etc.) and perception pipeline development.
• Experience with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GitLab, or similar tools for automating deployments and testing.
• Knowledge of communication protocols for inter-vehicle communications (e.g., DDS, ROS 2, or similar).
• Experience in integrating third-party software and APIs.


• Nice to Haves
• Passion for solving complex problems with little supervision in a fast-paced environment.  
• Ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced, highly collaborative, frequently changing, and sometimes ambiguous environment.  
• Excellent analytical, communication, and documentation skills with demonstrated ability to collaborate across multiple teams.  
• Ability to work in field environments, troubleshooting, testing, and deploying systems in challenging conditions.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical skills, and ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to document processes and communicate technical concepts to cross-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, evolving environment, as well as working under challenging conditions in remote or field locations.


• Travel   
• Must be willing to travel for field deployment and testing.


• Security   Clearance
• (Mandatory) Must be a U.S. Citizen.  
• (Mandatory) Must be eligible for a U.S. SECRET security clearance with special access program (SAP) eligibility.


• Preferred Qualifications 
• Master’s degree in a relevant field (Robotics, Computer Science, etc.).


• Technical  
• Experience with ROS 2 (Robot Operating System) and its associated tools.
• Proficiency with simulation tools (e.g., Gazebo, CARLA, AirSim) for vehicle and robotics systems.
• Familiarity with autonomous vehicle frameworks and software development for real-world deployment.
• Experience with vehicle networking and data exchange protocols.
• Strong background in AI/ML applications related to autonomous systems, including supervised/unsupervised learning and reinforcement learning.
• Prior experience working in Department of Defense (DoD) projects, or other regulated environments.
• Experience with Agile methodologies and working in fast-paced, iterative development cycles.
• Knowledge of security best practices for embedded systems and autonomous vehicles.
• Familiarity with networking, communications, and distributed systems.

What will it be like to work at EpiSci? As an engineer at EpiSci, you’ll work closely with a team of diversely skilled engineers to innovate software solutions to complex problems related to networked collaborative autonomous systems. You’ll attend the occasional project briefing and regular stand-ups, but mostly you’ll be focused on writing the code necessary to level up US defensive capabilities; you’ll be asked to travel to on-site demonstrations of these integrated solutions. You’ll develop cool things that you’ll get to test with cool people in cool places.   --- EpiSci is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We value our differences and we’re excited to learn what you can add to our team.  Don't meet every single requirement? At EpiSci, we're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workforce, so if you're excited about this role but your previous experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway! You may be the perfect candidate for this or another role at EpiSci.