Senior EO/IR Image Processing Engineer II

Rocket Lab Corporation; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Algorithm Engineer II for EO/IR image analysis in Tucson, AZ. You will develop, validate, and deploy advanced algorithms for space payloads, focusing on image processing, detection, and tracking.

You will collaborate across ML, optical design, and space vehicle modeling to prototype processing claims for next-generation payloads. You will apply both classical and deep learning techniques, work with software/firmware teams to achieve real-time performance, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of experience, or master's with 5+ years, or Ph.D. with 2+ years in a technical discipline with image processing or EO/IR experience.
• Strong experience designing, implementing, testing, and optimizing EO/IR image processing and computer vision algorithms for EO/IR sensors.
• Broad experience in computer vision: image stabilization, 3-D modeling, pose reconstruction, object detection and tracking, background suppression.
• Proficiency in Python with strong programming skills.
• Experience in image-system modeling and simulation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to present results to diverse audiences.
• Ability to contribute to a high-performance team; leadership in program milestones.
• U.S. citizenship is required for this program; ability to obtain/maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance.
• Experience with modern deep-learning-based CV approaches and space-based imaging or calibration procedures is a plus (nice to have).

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and validate EO/IR image-processing chains for real-time deployment on space payloads.
• Model and simulate optical sensor physics and mission imagery.
• Synthesize mission imagery to support ML training and algorithm validation.
• Apply classical and deep learning approaches to detect and track low-SNR EO/IR objects.
• Collaborate with software/firmware teams to deploy high-performance real-time algorithms.
• Maintain and improve deployed algorithms; troubleshoot fielded systems.
• Analyze large EO/IR datasets to extract analytics and assess performance.
• Document algorithm performance for technical and government stakeholders.
• Represent the organization in technical meetings and travel as needed.

Skills

Strong communication

Leadership

Teamwork

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in physics/optical sciences/CS

Master's degree in related field

PhD in related field

Tools

Python

C/C++

Job description

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Algorithm Engineer II for EO/IR image analysis in Tucson, AZ. You will develop, validate, and deploy advanced algorithms for space payloads, focusing on image processing, detection, and tracking.

You will collaborate across ML, optical design, and space vehicle modeling to prototype processing claims for next-generation payloads. You will apply both classical and deep learning techniques, work with software/firmware teams to achieve real-time performance, and