SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Rocket Lab Optical Systems is seeking a Principal Machine Learning Engineer to support the U.S. Space Development Agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and related programs. You will design, train, and deploy deep learning neural networks for advanced Electro-Optical (EO/IR) image processing applications serving Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers.
In this role, you will:
- Design, train, and deploy machine learning models for optical systems applications
- Build and maintain ML pipelines for data ingestion, feature engineering, training, and inference
- Develop deep learning neural networks for computer vision tasks including object detection, image segmentation, and tracking
- Collaborate with researchers and engineers on AI, machine learning, and computer vision initiatives
- Perform rapid prototyping and enhanced development for integration into operational systems
- Troubleshoot, debug, and maintain existing and new systems
- Stay current with ML research and evaluate new tools, frameworks, and techniques
Rocket Lab's Space Systems division has enabled over 1,700 missions, including interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing, and national security initiatives. The Optical Systems group builds mission-critical space domain and ISR solutions, leveraging more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of experience, OR Master's degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related field
- Strong background in machine learning: model selection, architecting, training, validation, testing, and deployment
- Experience building deep learning neural networks for computer vision, image processing, or video analysis (object detection, image segmentation, tracking)
- Strong mathematics background, particularly linear algebra
- Proficiency in Python
- Experience with deep learning libraries (Keras, TensorFlow, PyTorch, etc.)
- Software engineering fundamentals: version control, testing, CI/CD, containerization
- U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements
- Ability to obtain and maintain U.S. Government Security Clearance
NICE TO HAVE:
- Proficiency in C/C++/Rust
- Experience curating quality, real-world datasets for training deep learning models
- TS/SCI security clearance
