---
title: 'Senior Robotics Software Engineer, Perception at Parallel Systems'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-robotics-software-engineer-perception-parallel-systems-los-angeles-f8ktf87f30gm'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-05'
---

# Senior Robotics Software Engineer, Perception at Parallel Systems

- **Company:** Parallel Systems
- **Location:** Los Angeles, CA
- **Compensation:** $163k–$212k
- **Posted:** 2026-09-01
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-05
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/parallel/jobs/5227994007?gh_jid=5227994007

## Job description

Parallel Systems is pioneering autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles designed to transform freight transportation by shifting portions of the $900 billion U.S. trucking industry onto rail. Our innovative technology offers cleaner, safer, and more efficient logistics solutions. Join our dynamic team and help shape a smarter, greener future for global freight.

Parallel Systems is seeking a Senior Robotics Software Engineer to develop the perception and sensor fusion algorithms that let our fully autonomous, battery-electric rail vehicles understand the world around them in real time. In this role, you'll design and implement geometry-based computer vision and robotics algorithms alongside ML/learned-based methods, fuse high-throughput data from lidar, camera, IMU, and GPS sensors, and validate that the resulting system runs reliably around the clock in the field. You'll work closely with ML, firmware, embedded platform, and systems engineers to take sensor selection, calibration, and real-time fusion from first principles through production deployment. If you like working close to the math, the sensors, and the real world all at once, we'd love to work with you.

## Responsibilities

- Build and maintain real-time robotics software that ingests and fuses high-throughput, multi-modal sensor data from lidar, camera, IMU, GPS, and other sensors.
- Implement, validate, and test real-time sensor fusion code across simulation and real-world deployments, catching regressions before they reach the field.
- Perform sensor calibration (intrinsic, extrinsic, temporal) and apply a strong foundation in linear algebra, 3D geometry, and optimization (e.g., Kalman/particle filters, non-linear optimization) to state estimation problems.
- Design and implement geometry-based computer vision and robotics algorithms (multi-view geometry, filtering, tracking) for real-time perception; experience with ML-based approaches is a bonus.
- Evaluate sensor selection and system-level tradeoffs, and define test and validation plans that prove the system can run reliably 24/7 in production.
- Contribute to sensor system hardware design, including IP-rated, ruggedized enclosures and mounts built to hold up in real-world field conditions.
- Build and maintain sensor pipelines for real-time sensor and video data streaming and processing.
- Collaborate with ML, firmware, embedded platform, and systems engineering teams to integrate perception algorithms into the full autonomy stack.

What Success Looks Like:

- After 30 Days: You've developed a solid understanding of our current perception architecture, sensor suite (lidar, camera, IMU, GPS), and calibration and fusion pipeline. You've reviewed the state estimation and tracking algorithms end-to-end and identified concrete opportunities to improve accuracy, robustness, or performance.
- After 60 Days: You've designed and landed improvements to a sensor fusion, state estimation, or tracking algorithm, and contributed to sensor calibration procedures. You've built a proof of concept demonstrating measurable gains in accuracy or robustness.
- After 90 Days: You own a perception or sensor fusion subsystem end-to-end, with an algorithm delivering measurable, validated improvements in accuracy, robustness, or real-time performance. You've contributed to sensor selection or system-level tradeoffs with clear impact on overall perception capability.

Basic Requirements:

- Bachelor's or higher degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent experience considered.
- 4+ years of hands-on experience developing and deploying robotics or perception software in real-world systems.
- Strong background designing and implementing geometry-based computer vision and robotics algorithms (multi-view geometry, filtering, optimization); ML-based experience is a bonus.
- Proficiency in Rust and C/C++.
- Experience with real-time systems handling high-throughput, multi-modal sensor data and fusion across lidar, camera, IMU, and GPS.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Experience implementing and testing real-time sensor fusion code, including validation methodology.
- Experience with sensor calibration and/or a strong foundation in math and optimization algorithms (Kalman/particle filters, non-linear optimization, 3D geometry).
- Ability to evaluate sensor selection and system-level tradeoffs, and to define test and validation plans that prove robust, round-the-clock production operations.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with experience working on interdisciplinary teams.
- Experience with sensor fusion, localization/SLAM, and/or online calibration.
- Experience with GStreamer for real-time pipeline development.
- Publications in top-tier robotics conferences (e.g., ICRA, IROS, RSS, CoRL) or related journals.
- Hardware experience building IP-rated, ruggedized robotic systems and designing real-world robotic platforms.
- Experience with ROS2 or similar robotics middleware.
- Background in autonomous vehicles, field robotics, or other safety-critical domains.

We are committed to providing fair and transparent compensation in accordance with applicable laws. Salary ranges are listed below and reflect the expected range for new hires in this role, based on factors such as skills, experience, qualifications, and location. Final compensation may vary and will be determined during the interview process. The target hiring range for this position is listed below.

Target Salary Range: $163,000—$212,000 USD

Parallel Systems is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any discriminatory factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. We work to build an inclusive environment in which all people can come to do their best work.

Parallel Systems is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Parallel Systems will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact your recruiter.

## About Parallel Systems

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Parallel Systems develops autonomous, battery-electric rail vehicles to convert freight from truck to rail, enabling railroads to serve new markets with a cleaner, more flexible, and cost-effective alternative to short-haul trucking.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B)
- **Headquarters**: Los Angeles, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2020
- **Founders**: Matt Soule (Founder and CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Railroad Equipment Manufacturing, Autonomous Freight, Clean Logistics
- **Target Customers**: Railroads, freight operators, ports, distribution centers, and logistics companies (B2B, Enterprise)
- **Mission/Purpose**: To provide a safer, more efficient, and sustainable alternative to short-haul trucking by seamlessly integrating autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles with existing rail operations, decongesting highways, and reducing shipping costs and pollution.

## Products & Services
- **[Autonomous, Battery-Electric Rail System](https://moveparallel.com/product/)**: A fleet of self-propelled, autonomous rail vehicles designed to haul intermodal containers up to 500 miles on a single charge. Key features include:
  - **No couplers**: Vehicles self-sort and assemble into platoons, eliminating manual coupling and enabling instant rerouting.
  - **Platooning & Aerodynamics**: Patented technology yields unprecedented range and energy efficiency.
  - **Advanced Braking**: Self-contained, adaptive braking with automatic parking brakes for shorter stopping distances.
  - **Integrated Systems**: Software platform seamlessly integrates with existing railroad train control and business systems, providing real-time data via APIs.
- **Solutions for Rail**: New line hauls (city-to-city), port shuttles (reducing drayage), and direct-to-customer service (small-footprint terminals at warehouses).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding – **USD 91,349,995** ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/parallelsystems))
- **Funding History**:
  - Seed Round (June 2020): $3.8M – led by Congruent Ventures
  - Series A (Jan 2022): $49.5M – led by Anthos Capital
  - Series B (May 2025): $38.0M – led by Anthos Capital
- **Notable Investors**: Anthos Capital, Congruent Ventures
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Employee headcount grew **44.7% year-over-year** to 45 employees (as of mid-2025)
  - **First commercial pilot** launched in April 2025 after receiving Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approval ([Pulse 2.0](https://www.linkedin.com/company/parallelsystems))
  - Currently in **second phase of testing on Genesee & Wyoming (G&W) in Georgia** ([Railway Age, July 2025](https://www.moveparallel.com/))
  - **14 active job postings** as of July 2025, with 75% year-over-year growth in listings

## Competitive Advantages
- **Autonomous, battery-electric technology** purpose-built for rail, offering a direct alternative to short-haul trucking (a massive market consuming 45 billion gallons of diesel annually).
- **No couplers** – enables instant, automated rerouting and packetized freight, greatly improving operational flexibility compared to traditional trains.
- **Long range (500 miles) on one hour of charge** via patented platooning aerodynamics.
- **Seamless integration** with existing railroad systems, reducing adoption barriers.
- **Small footprint** allows direct service to warehouse docks and small terminals, unlocking new low-density, short-haul lanes.

## Strategic Focus
- **Commercial deployment**: Moving from testing to revenue-generating pilot operations with partner railroads.
- **Scaling manufacturing and operations**: Growing the team (especially engineering and sales) to support commercial expansion.
- **Expanding market share**: Target shorter and lower density routes currently dominated by trucking, while also enabling port shuttles and direct-to-customer rail service.
- **Sustainability-driven growth**: Position rail as a lower-emission, cost-competitive alternative to reduce the 7% of U.S. emissions from trucking.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: "A team of curious, committed problem-solvers" with a focus on inclusion, ownership, and technical excellence ([Greenhouse careers page](https://boards.greenhouse.io/parallel)).
- **Impact**: Directly influence the future of freight by building autonomous, clean rail technology that can decongest highways and cut pollution.
- **Engineering Focus**: 45% of employees are in technical roles (robotics, autonomy, ML, mechatronics) – a strong engineering-led environment.
- **Location**: Based in Los Angeles, CA (Factory Place), with a small presence in India.
- **Growth Trajectory**: Rapidly scaling (44.7% headcount growth, new Series B funding, commercial pilot underway) offering significant career development opportunities.
- **Notable alumni destinations**: SpaceX, Tesla, Vast, Rivian, Anduril – reflects a high-caliber talent pool.

## Sources
1. [Parallel Systems Website](https://www.moveparallel.com)
2. [Parallel Systems Careers (Greenhouse)](https://boards.greenhouse.io/parallel)
3. [LinkedIn Company Page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/parallelsystems)
4. [Parallel Systems Product Page](https://moveparallel.com/product/)
5. [Pulse 2.0 on Series B](https://www.linkedin.com/company/parallelsystems)

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