# Senior ML Engineer, Perception

Source: https://realanalystjobs.com/job/senior-ml-engineer-perception-clera-8bb1d086
Senior ML Engineer, Perception at Clera, an on-site role based in San Francisco, California, USA. Experience level: 5 Years. Pay stated in the posting: $190K to $222K. Posted on 12 November 2026, read from Clera's own careers page (Ashby), which RealAnalystJobs re-checks daily and removes the role when it closes. The posting says the employer will not sponsor a visa for this role.

Updated 15 November 2026.

## Key facts

- Company: [Clera](https://realanalystjobs.com/companies/clera)
- Location: San Francisco, California, USA
- Work mode: On-site
- Pay stated in the posting: $190K to $222K
- Posted: Nov 12, 2026
- Employment type: Full time
- Experience level: 5 Years
- Source: Clera's careers page (Ashby), re-checked daily

Skills: [Python](https://realanalystjobs.com/skills/python)

## Visa sponsorship

The posting says the employer will not sponsor a visa for this role.

## About this role

About the Role

Lead the perception stack for an autonomous defense robotics system, covering detection, tracking, classification, and sensor fusion. You will partner with robotics, controls, and hardware engineers to deliver reliable performance in real-world field conditions.

What You'll Do

• Own perception architecture across detection, tracking, classification, and sensor fusion.

• Build ML models and training pipelines, then deploy models to embedded hardware.

• Fuse EO/IR and other sensor data across the perception system.

• Optimize real-time perception for embedded compute and strict latency budgets.

• Work closely with robotics, controls, and hardware teams to deliver systems that perform in the field.

• Mentor perception engineers while contributing directly to implementation.

What We're Looking For

• At least 5 years building and shipping perception systems on physical hardware.

• Strong Python and production C++ skills, with experience in ML engineering and computer vision.

• Experience building real-time detection and tracking using live sensor data, including moving-target tracking and ego-motion compensation.

• Hands-on deployment of ML models with TensorRT, ONNX, or equivalent, and optimization for embedded compute.

• Experience developing ML training pipelines through deployment and delivering systems that work against real-world targets.

• Background in robotics, autonomy, aerospace, or defense perception; experience with aerial targets, thermal imagery, radar, or multi-sensor fusion is helpful.

• BS, MS, PhD, or equivalent experience in computer science, electrical engineering, robotics, or a related field.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary range: $190,000 to $222,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Location

On-site in San Francisco, California, United States.

Description from Clera's public careers feed, reproduced so you can read the role here. Apply on the company's own site; Real Analyst Jobs never submits anything for you.

## How to apply

Open [this role on Real Analyst Jobs](https://realanalystjobs.com/job/senior-ml-engineer-perception-clera-8bb1d086) and use Apply now there to reach the employer's application. The listing is re-checked against Clera's careers page daily and removed when it closes.

## Clera

Analyst roles on Real Analyst Jobs. [More roles at Clera](https://realanalystjobs.com/companies/clera)

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## Sources and links

- [This role on Real Analyst Jobs](https://realanalystjobs.com/job/senior-ml-engineer-perception-clera-8bb1d086)
- [Clera on Real Analyst Jobs](https://realanalystjobs.com/companies/clera)
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