Senior Software Engineer - Perception (f/m/d)

ABOUT FUTURAIL

Futurail is a leading technology startup and autonomy powerhouse based in Germany and France. We power the future of autonomous travel on rail with our holistic autonomy stack for self-driving trains. Our mission is to make trains even more attractive by offering frequent, reliable, cost-effective and low-carbon transportation, contributing to the broader goal of transitioning from road to rail. Founded by a team with extensive expertise in autonomous driving and rail, we are committed to shaping the future of rail transportation.

We are entering a phase of rapid growth. This is your chance to join an ambitious team at the forefront of autonomy and rail, working to transform how millions of people move every day!

OUR VALUES

• Bias for Action : We move with purpose and speed.
• One Team : We break down silos to move as one.
• Radical Simplicity : We solve hard problems with the simplest solution that scales.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Futurail is seeking a specialized Senior Software Engineer - Perception to serve as a technical anchor for our autonomy team. In this role, you will drive the core intelligence that enables our trains to “see" and interpret complex rail environments.

We are looking for a practitioner-leader : someone who provides architectural guidance and technical direction and architectural guidance for perception while remaining deeply hands-on in code. You will design, develop, and deploy real-time software systems that detect obstacles and ensure safety at scale. This is a high-impact role for a senior engineer who thrives on solving the toughest perception challenges through a combination of strategic leadership and world-class engineering execution.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Deliver high-quality, production-ready code for obstacle detection and perception systems.
• Drive the architectural design and define the technical roadmap of our 3D point cloud processing and computer vision stack
• Design and implement robust sensor integrity and fusion components to maintain performance under challenging environmental conditions.
• Drive system-level impact : ensure that perception decisions and designs positively influence the performance, safety, and efficiency of the entire autonomous system.
• Foster a culture of engineering excellence through rigorous code reviews, defining engineering and testing standards, and mentorship of junior engineers

REQUIREMENTS

• 5+ years of experience in C++ and Python (Rust is a plus) with a proven track record of shipping software in real-time robotics or autonomous systems .
• Extensive hands-on experience with 3D point clouds , spatial geometry, and algorithms for object detection, classification, and tracking
• Deep understanding of LiDAR and camera sensor characteristics , including calibration, noise modeling, and sensor fusion techniques; experience with Radar is a plus.
• Technical leadership : ability to lead complex projects from concept to deployment while maintaining a high level of individual coding contribution
• Strong problem-solving skills , with a pragmatic, collaborative approach and a systems-thinking mindset.
• Safety-Critical Mindset: Experience developing software under functional safety standards is a plus.

BENEFITS

• High-impact role: Have real ownership and visibility from Day 1
• Learning & development: We are committed to your continuous development and offer support tailored to your role and growth path
• Competitive compensation package : We offer a competitive salary, including a virtual stock option program for full-time employees
• Office in Werk1 - the most start-up friendly space in Munich: A cool and modern office in Munich's Werksviertel, with regular community events like weekly team lunches, monthly breakfasts, after-work events, and much more!
• Gym Club membership: We cover part of your Egym Wellpass subscription - for when your brain needs a cooldown and your legs need a warm-up.

Join us as a Senior Software Engineer in our Munich office and help accelerate the shift from road to rail. If you're excited about real-world impact, cutting-edge autonomy, and building from zero-to-one, we’d love to hear from you.