Lead EO/IR Image Processing Engineer

Rocketlab; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Tucson, AZ seeks a Principal Algorithm Engineer for EO/IR image analysis to develop, validate, and deploy advanced algorithms for space payloads, with emphasis on image processing, object detection, and tracking.

You will collaborate with ML, optical design, and space vehicle modeling teams, transition algorithms into real-time software, and present performance results to diverse stakeholders including government customers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of experience in physics, optical sciences, CS, math, or engineering with EO/IR experience.
• Strong experience designing, implementing, testing, and optimizing image processing and computer vision algorithms for EO/IR sensors.
• Broad experience in computer vision topics: image stabilization/registration, 3-D multi-view modeling, pose reconstruction (bundle adjustment), object detection/tracking, background suppression.
• Proficiency in Python with strong programming skills.
• Experience in image-system modeling and simulation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to present results to diverse audiences.
• Ability to contribute to a high-performance team and lead others.
• U.S. citizenship required for program.
• Ability to obtain/maintain U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and validate complex EO/IR image-processing chains and support deployment into real-time implementations on space-based sensor payloads.
• Leverage physics of optical sensors and image formation to develop modeling/simulation frameworks for mission imagery.
• Use simulations to synthesize mission imagery for ML training and algorithm validation.
• Apply classical and modern deep learning approaches to detect and track low-SNR objects in EO/IR imagery for critical applications.
• Collaborate with software/firmware teams to transition algorithms to high-performance real-time code.
• Support and improve deployed algorithms and ongoing system performance.
• Analyze large EO/IR datasets to extract analytics and assess algorithm performance.
• Document and present results to technical and government stakeholders.
• Attend meetings and represent the organization in project development.

Skills

EO/IR image processing

Computer vision

Python programming

Image-system modeling

Communication

Team leadership

Security clearance

C/C++ (nice-to-have)

Education

Bachelor's degree with 12+ years in a technical field

Master's with 8+ years

PhD with 5+ years

Tools

TS/SCI clearance

Job description

Rocket Lab in Tucson, AZ seeks a Principal Algorithm Engineer for EO/IR image analysis to develop, validate, and deploy advanced algorithms for space payloads, with emphasis on image processing, object detection, and tracking.

You will collaborate with ML, optical design, and space vehicle modeling teams, transition algorithms into real-time software, and present performance results to diverse stakeholders including government customers.