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Salary: USD 259,000 - 370,000 / annual
Rocket Lab Optical Systems is seeking a Principal Algorithm Engineer to develop, validate, and deploy advanced algorithms for electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) space payloads. This role focuses on image processing, object detection, and tracking for mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) applications serving Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers.
You will develop and optimize complex EO/IR image-processing chains for real-time implementations on space-based sensor payloads. Key responsibilities include:
• Develop, optimize, and validate EO/IR image-processing chains and support deployment into real-time space-based implementations
• Apply understanding of optical sensor physics and image formation to develop and optimize modeling and simulation frameworks for mission imagery
• Synthesize mission imagery using simulation frameworks to support machine learning training and algorithm validation
• Apply classical and modern (deep learning) approaches to detect and track low-signal-to-noise-ratio objects in EO/IR imagery
• Collaborate with software and firmware teams to transition complex algorithms into high-performance, real-time implementations
• Support and enhance existing operational programs, including maintaining deployed algorithms, troubleshooting fielded systems, and ensuring ongoing performance and reliability
• Analyze large and complex EO/IR datasets to extract analytics and assess algorithm performance
• Document and present algorithm performance results to technical and non-technical stakeholders, including government customers
• Attend technical interchange meetings and represent the organization in project development matters
• Support travel or off-site work as needed
Rocket Lab Optical Systems builds on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation and has enabled more than 1,700 missions, including work with NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of experience, Master's degree with 8+ years of experience, or Ph.D. with 5+ years of experience in physics, optical sciences, computer science, mathematics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or related technical discipline with demonstrated experience in image processing or EO/IR systems
• Strong experience designing, implementing, testing, and optimizing image processing and computer vision algorithms for EO/IR sensors
• Broad experience in computer vision areas including image stabilization/registration, 3-D multi-view camera modeling, pose reconstruction (bundle adjustment), object detection and tracking, and background suppression
• Proficiency in Python with strong programming skills
• Demonstrated experience in image-system modeling and simulation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to document technical work and present results to diverse audiences
• Ability to contribute to a high-performance team
• Leadership skills supporting completion of program and project milestones
• U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements and ITAR regulations
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance
NICE-TO-HAVE QUALIFICATIONS:
• Strong math background, particularly linear algebra
• Experience with modern, deep-learning-based approaches to computer vision
• Experience with space-looking or space-based imaging systems
• Experience with sensor calibration procedures (radiometric, geometric, temporal) for EO/IR systems
• Proficiency in C/C++
• Experience across all phases of product development including proposal design architectures, requirements generation, design development, integration, verification, and transition to production
• Experience managing or leading others in a technical and/or functional capacity within an engineering environment
• TS/SCI security clearance
