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 Senior Machine Learning Engineer II 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 solutions 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 development for integration into operational systems
- Troubleshoot, debug, and maintain existing and new systems
- Stay current with ML research and evaluate emerging tools, frameworks, and techniques
Rocket Lab Optical Systems builds mission-critical space domain and ISR solutions, leveraging over 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation. The Space Systems division has enabled more than 1,700 missions ranging from interplanetary exploration to national security initiatives, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree with 8+ 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
- Demonstrated 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, or similar)
- 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
