Perception Machine Learning Engineer
Builds and deploys machine-learning perception (computer vision) systems for Saildrone's autonomous unmanned surface vehicles — training, evaluating, and productionizing models from real-world sensor data for detection, classification, segmentation, and scene understanding. Core stack: Python and PyTorch, with C++, edge deployment, and inference optimization (ONNX/TensorRT/CUDA) as pluses.
- Compensation
- $14.5K–$322.7K / yr
- Location
- Alameda, California, United States
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Not specified
- Employment
- Not specified
- Experience
- Not specified
- Category
- Ml / AI
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Strong Python programming skills
- Hands-on experience developing computer vision or machine learning systems
- Strong experience with PyTorch or a comparable ML framework
- Strong understanding of computer vision fundamentals and real-world visual data
- Experience evaluating models using quantitative metrics and experimental analysis
- Experience taking ML or computer vision systems into production
Nice to have
- C++ experience for production perception systems
- Robotics, autonomous vehicle, aerospace, or defense experience
- Edge or embedded ML deployment
- Sensor fusion, 3D perception, or multimodal perception
- ONNX, TensorRT, CUDA, or other inference optimization experience
Full description
THE COMPANY
Saildrone is a maritime defense company and the global leader in autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). With more ocean miles and real-world operational experience than any USV manufacturer or operator, Saildrone maintains active, combat-deployed systems supporting national security and force projection around the world, 24/7/365.
Saildrone’s manufacturing and R&D headquarters are located in Alameda, CA, with business development and sales operations in Washington, DC, an established European entity supporting regional business development, sales, and operations, and a deployment hub in the Middle East. By combining proven autonomous operations, edge computing, advanced sensing, renewable power, and the most advanced and robust unmanned surface technology on the planet, Saildrone is shaping how the Navy of the future operates. Join a fast-moving, mission-driven team at the forefront of maritime security and autonomous innovation.
THE POSITION
Saildrone is applying modern machine learning and computer vision to autonomous vehicles operating in challenging, poorly observed environments. As a Perception Machine Learning Engineer, you will develop and deploy ML-based perception capabilities using real-world vehicle data.
You will work across model development, data, evaluation, and production deployment.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop machine-learning-based perception systems for autonomous vehicles.
- Train, evaluate, and improve computer vision models using real-world sensor data.
- Develop data and experimentation workflows to identify failure modes and improve model performance.
- Build perception capabilities for detection, classification, segmentation, depth estimation, or scene understanding.
- Analyze vehicle data and model failures to identify weaknesses and drive improvements.
- Integrate models into production perception systems.
- Bring new machine learning techniques from experimentation into deployed systems.
THE QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong Python programming skills.
- Hands-on experience developing computer vision or machine learning systems.
- Strong experience with PyTorch or a comparable ML framework.
- Strong understanding of computer vision fundamentals and real-world visual data.
- Experience evaluating models using quantitative metrics and experimental analysis.
- Experience taking ML or computer vision systems into production.
NICE TO HAVE
- C++ experience for production perception systems.