Staff Computer Vision Engineer

Company Description

iMETALX, Inc. is creating a future where space is accessible and sustainable for all. We provide space domain awareness (SDA) and in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) solutions for governments and commercial customers. Our work spans spacecraft autonomy (world view, perception, and controls) as well as testing and deploying software on real systems.

We are building a small, high-impact team working on cross-domain applications that leverage state-of-the-art computer vision, machine learning, and autonomy. This includes both space applications (ISAM & SDA) and terrestrial analogs that use similar technologies. You will be joining at a stage where your ideas and ownership meaningfully shape the technical direction, culture, and impact of the company.

Role Overview:

We are seeking a Staff Computer Vision Engineer to design, implement, and optimize cutting-edge computer vision and machine learning algorithms for advanced RPOD, ISAM, and SDA applications. In this pivotal hands-on technical role, you will be responsible for leading the development of robust, production-quality perception systems that run on space and terrestrial platforms.

This is a technical leadership role, with significant hands-on contributions. You should expect a significant portion of your time designing, implementing, and working on computer vision software, while also leading and mentoring a small team. In addition, you will work closely with the founding team to define our CV roadmap, architecture, and research strategy, while mentoring other CV engineers and collaborating across autonomy, controls, and systems engineering. Your expertise will guide cross-functional teams through the entire lifecycle of technology from concept through to deployment, ensuring that systems meet rigorous safety and performance standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of CV/ML algorithms in Python and C++ for perception tasks including reading and implementing recent research papers.
• Architect and enhance computer vision pipelines tailored specifically for RPOD, ISAM, and SDA mission requirements.
• Champion end-to-end software quality, including rigorous testing, debugging, performance profiling, and ensuring reliability along with considerations like robustness, scalability, and speed.
• Oversee and participate in software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing to validate system performance in mission-like scenarios.
• Integrate CV modules with various simulation tools, customer interfaces, and other autonomous components.
• Mentor junior engineers and share knowledge to elevate team capabilities and drive best practices for software development.
• Stay abreast of the latest research and innovations in computer vision and applied ML, assessing which advancements could be integrated into our technologies, bringing forward ideas, tools, and open-source implementations that can accelerate our work.

Who You Are

• Expert programmer beyond just Python:
• Exceptional programming fundamentals and proficiency in additional languages such as C++, Rust, or CUDA.
• Adept in navigating and enhancing larger, evolving codebases with version control (Git), automated testing, and CI/CD systems.
• Deeply experienced in taking projects from concept through implementation to deployment, showcasing extreme ownership.
• Possess strong analytical skills, able to succinctly convey complex problems and innovative solutions.
• Open-minded and ambitious along with extreme ownership and end-to-end thinking.
• Embrace challenging problems and iteratively refine “impossible” ideas while maintaining a focus on actionable outcomes.
• Value lifelong learning and display genuine curiosity:
• Engage with newly published research and relevant technologies; able to articulate how recent advances could impact our work.
• Culture-centric collaborator:
• Foster a culture of transparency, direct communication, and collaborative problem-solving within the team.
• Thrives in a small, agile team environment where leadership and team support are equally valued.
• Recent, demonstrable experience implementing CV/ML algorithms yourself (not just overseeing them).
• Demonstrated experience taking projects from concept through implementation, testing, and deployment.
• Able to explain the hardest problems you've solved, how you evaluated success, and how you handle the gap between theory and implementation.
• Communicates clearly why something may not work, propose alternatives, and help converge on a viable path.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in computer vision, machine learning, or software engineering with a proven track record of tackling hard problems.
• Advanced programming expertise in Python and C++, including experience with deployment in production environments.
• Deep understanding of modern CV architectures and methods.
• Significant experience with one or more areas of:
• Computer vision research/algorithms with publications, robotic perception, autonomous systems, drones or fields where consistent performance and reliability are critical.
• In-depth knowledge of Linux and proficiency in modern software development practices (Git, code review processes, automated testing).
• Ability and willingness to work on-site in Sausalito, CA.
• U.S. citizenship due to ITAR export-control restrictions. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience with robotics, autonomous vehicles, or other SWaP-constrained systems.
• Hands-on experience integrating with various simulation environments, cloud technologies, or complex APIs.
• Familiarity with CUDA, GPU acceleration techniques, or other performance optimization strategies.
• Experience with advanced perception frameworks and methodologies.

Electrical Engineering, Robotics, and Hardware (Bonus)

Knowledge in electrical engineering and robotics would be beneficial but not mandatory for this role. Valuable experiences include:

• Experience with embedded systems or hardware integration for perception and machine learning applications.
• Familiarity with a range of sensors such as LiDAR, IMUs, EO/IR cameras, and their associated calibration/integration methods.
• Hands-on experience with SWaP-constrained platforms (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson, FPGAs, etc.).

Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Health Insurance/Dental
• Paid Time Off
• 401k
• Performance Bonus
• Equity