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Principal Machine Learning Engineer (EO/IR Image Analysis) Verified today

Rocket Lab · Chantilly, VA · Payload · first seen 2026-10-12
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About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine.

Rocket Lab Optical Systems

Rocket Lab Optical Systems solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance challenges for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. We deliver innovative electro-optical and infrared solutions for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments, building on over 20 years of systems innovation.

The Role

As Principal Machine Learning Engineer, you will support Tranche 3 of the U.S. Space Development Agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) by building deep learning neural networks for advanced Electro-Optical (EO/IR) image processing.

What You'll Do

  • Design, train, and deploy machine learning models for Optical Systems applications
  • Build and maintain ML pipelines for data ingestion, feature engineering, training, and inference
  • Collaborate with researchers and engineers on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision
  • 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 new tools, frameworks, and techniques

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree and 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, architecture, 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, or equivalent)
  • Software engineering fundamentals: version control, testing, CI/CD, containerization
  • U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a 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

Compensation

  • Base Salary: $153,000-$204,000 USD
  • Total Compensation (base and equity): $198,900-$318,200 USD
  • Equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance

Benefits

Comprehensive package includes Employee Stock Purchase Program (15% discount), top-tier medical, dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, 401(k) with company match, and other discounts and perks.

Work Environment

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, with occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.