Senior Machine Learning Engineer II (EO/IR Image Analysis)

Rocket Lab Optical Systems is seeking a Senior Machine Learning Engineer II to support advanced electro-optical (EO/IR) image analysis in Chantilly, Virginia. This onsite role contributes to Tranche 3 of the U.S. Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and related efforts, where deep learning models and operational ML pipelines are central to turning EO/IR data into actionable insight.

In this position, you will design and deploy machine learning solutions for optical systems, partnering with other engineers and researchers across artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision. Work includes rapid prototyping, ongoing system improvements, and keeping tooling and methods current with the latest research.

What you’ll do

• Apply your experience to develop solutions for real-world problems.
• Design, train, and deploy machine learning models for Optical Systems applications.
• Build and maintain ML pipelines spanning data ingestion, feature engineering, training, and inference.
• Collaborate with other researchers and engineers on AI, machine learning, and computer vision.
• Lead rapid prototyping and enhanced development aimed at integration into operational systems.
• Troubleshoot, perform bug fixes, and carry out maintenance for existing and new systems.
• Stay current with ML research and evaluate new tools, frameworks, and techniques.

What you bring

• Bachelor’s degree plus 8+ years of experience, or a master’s degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Strong background in machine learning across model selection, architecture, training, validation, testing, and deployment.
• Experience building deep learning neural networks for computer vision, image processing, or video analysis (for example, object detection, image segmentation, and tracking).
• Strong math foundation, particularly linear algebra.
• Proficiency in Python.
• Experience with deep learning libraries such as Keras, TensorFlow, and PyTorch.
• Software engineering fundamentals including version control, testing, CI/CD, and containerization.
• U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Technologies

• Python
• Keras
• TensorFlow
• PyTorch
• CI/CD
• containerization

Additional preferences

• Proficiency in C/C++/Rust.
• Experience curating high-quality, real-world datasets for training deep learning models.
• TS/SCI security clearance.

Role details

• Location: Chantilly, VA (onsite)
• Compensation: USD 130,000 to 229,100 per year

Important information

• For candidates seeking to work in U.S. offices: Rocket Lab employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable (ITAR).
• Applicants needing a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process for a U.S.-based role should contact Giulia Johnson at [email protected].
• For candidates seeking to work in New Zealand offices: background checks will be conducted prior to any employment offers, including nationality checks.
• Under these regulations, you may be ineligible if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a NATO member country, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.