Senior Machine Learning Engineer II (EO/IR Image Analysis) Verified today
About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. The Space Systems division has enabled more than 1,700 missions for partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
Rocket Lab Optical Systems
Rocket Lab Optical Systems solves mission-critical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance challenges for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation, we deliver responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains.
The Role
As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer II, 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, fix bugs, and maintain existing and new systems
- Stay current with ML research and evaluate new tools, frameworks, and techniques
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree and 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 including 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 math 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 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 to $204,000 USD. Total compensation (base and equity): $130,000 to $229,100 USD. Equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors.
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits package includes company stock ownership, Employee Stock Purchase Program (15% discount), 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.
Working Conditions
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.