Director, AI / Perception

Who we are

The problem : Every minute matters in fire response. As climate change amplifies the intensity of wildfires—with longer fire seasons, dryer fuels, and faster winds—new ignitions spread faster and put more communities at risk. Today, most wildfires are detected by bystanders and reported via 911, meaning it can take hours to detect a fire, verify its exact location and size, and dispatch first responders. Fire authorities need a faster way to detect, confirm, and pinpoint fires so that they can quickly respond—preventing small flare-ups from becoming devastating infernos.

About Pano : We are a 100+ person growth-stage hybrid-remote start-up, headquartered in San Francisco. We are the leader in early wildfire detection and intelligence, helping fire professionals respond to fires faster and more safely—with the right equipment, timely information, and enhanced coordination—so that they can stop a new ignition before it grows. Pano AI combines advanced hardware, software, and artificial intelligence into an easy-to-use, web-based platform. Leveraging a network of ultra-high-definition, 360-degree cameras atop high vantage points, as well as satellite and other data feeds, Pano AI produces a real-time picture of threats in a geographic region and delivers immediate, actionable intelligence.

Pano AI is on TIME's list of the 100 Most Influential Companies of 2025! MIT Technology Review listed Pano as one of the top 15 climate tech companies to watch in 2024, and Fast Company named Pano AI one of the Top 10 most innovative companies in AI of 2023. We’ve also been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and CNBC News. Pano AI’s dozens of government and enterprise customers span 16 states in the U.S., five states in Australia, and BC, Canada, and we are currently monitoring over 30 million acres of land. Pano AI has raised $89M in venture capital funding from Giant Ventures, Liberty Mutual Ventures, Tokio Marine Future Fund, Congruent Ventures, Initialized Capital, Salesforce Ventures, and T-Mobile Ventures.

The Role

We are seeking a director or an experienced manager to lead the AI / Perception Team responsible for developing and improving our computer vision-based fire detection and localization systems. This team is core to the Pano Rapid Detect product that detects wildfires in real time. This leader will drive a range of research and development initiatives to support improving KPIs related to our core product, as well as developing AI, Computer Vision, and satellite models for a range of new applications. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in computer vision, machine learning, and team leadership.

What You’ll Do

• Lead a team of computer vision engineers and AI researchers working on fire detection and geolocation algorithms.
• Establish performance metrics and testing protocols to evaluate system accuracy, reliability, and latency.
• Work with product management and the labeling team to collect, annotate, and curate diverse fire imagery datasets across various environmental conditions.
• Develop and improve methods for spatial reasoning, improving the speed and accuracy of geolocation algorithms.
• Coordinate with product management and managers of the Pano Intelligence Center to ensure that the end-to-end detection and localization process is effective.
• Stay current with state-of-the-art research in computer vision, particularly in detection of anomalies in natural environments.
• Ensure robust performance across challenging conditions (night, partial visibility, varying weather).
• Write industry whitepapers showcasing the customer benefits of our key technical systems.

What You’ll Bring

Preferred Skills

We offer a salary range of $250,000 - $300,000 a year, comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance, unlimited paid time off, and matching 401k. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and supporting our team-members regardless of where they come from. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

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