Autonomous Systems Engineer

About the role

The Autonomous Systems Engineer will be focus on sensor data processing and the development of algorithms used to fuse multiple sensors for unmanned, autonomous, submersible systems. This role requires an understanding of data processing and data fusion at the edge, from multiple sensors (acoustic, magnetic, etc.), to enable mission-level autonomous decision making. This includes developing and implementing data fusion algorithms as well as decision making algorithms to demonstrate autonomy capabilities for submersible systems. The Autonomous Systems Engineer will assist in large, multi-year subsea data intelligence research programs with an emphasis on autonomous sense-making, and mission-driven use of subsea and oceanographic datasets. This role will assist in the development of a decision support framework for uncrewed underwater vehicles capable of adapting in real time to changing environmental conditions.  

Many of our projects focus on using sensor-informed edge-deployed models running onboard uncrewed platforms (e.g., uncrewed surface vessels and uncrewed underwater vessels) to make real-time assessments of mission goals and provide the operators of uncrewed systems with decision aids to maximize mission outcomes. Executing this approach for maritime systems, which may involve multiple uncrewed or autonomous systems operating together to achieve a given mission, requires holistic system-wide modeling and simulation approach with a distillation of relevant factors correlated with mission outcomes. Therefore, we are particularly interested in candidates who have experience in extracting critical mission-relevant data from dense sources (e.g., modeling and simulation tools, sensors such as acoustic or magnetic, and/or machinery control systems) and translating that into actionable, mission-level information for autonomous decision making at the edge. 

Integer is a science and technology research and development organization. As such, much of our work entails developing solutions for complex problems that presently have no known solutions. To achieve internal and customer project goals all candidates must be able to perform research, understand new concepts from other engineering disciplines on advanced and complex topics, and document findings in a way that is easy for non-experts to understand. The Subsea Data Intelligence Engineering Manager must be able to serve as a Principal Investigator and a technical contributor with the technical background to contribute to the development of new technologies and prototypes. 

What you'll do

• Serve as an Autonomous Systems Engineer for submersible systems, with an emphasis on sensor data fusion algorithms for autonomous systems.  

• Identify and develop methods of optimization for edge processing of sensor data used onboard autonomous platforms 

• Contribute meaningfully to the technical deliverables of industry-academia research projects aimed at intelligent operation of unmanned and autonomous maritime systems.  

• Assist with the development of autonomous strategies that balance speed, cost, and value of alternative approaches depending on system and project objectives.    

• Engage with partners and customers to understand customer or user needs and elicit project requirements. 

• Work collaboratively with software engineering and business development team members to develop new products and services using modeling and simulation tools and insights derived from their application.

Required Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD Secret Clearance. 

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field (e.g., computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or other related field) and 6+ years of experience relevant to primary responsibilities outlined above.

OR 

• Master’s degree in relevant field and 4+ years of relevant experience. 

• Experience using data from various perception sensor types (sonar, magnetic, cameras, lidar, etc.) to enhance a robotic platform's perception of its surrounding environmental and potential navigational hazards. 

• Background in mathematics, and understanding of robotic algorithms such as, linear algebra, trigonometry, Bayesian statistics, and Kalman Filters 

• Understanding of the Navy and Department of Defense’s mission, problem set, and strategy for the integration of autonomous systems. 

• Experience with numerical methods and scientific software development in general purpose programming languages (e.g., Python, C++, Matlab).

Desired Qualifications

• Ph.D. in relevant field (e.g., computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or other related field) and 2+ years of relevant experience. 

• Experience with unmanned and autonomous systems research involving maritime autonomous systems such as uncrewed surface vessels and uncrewed underwater vessels. 

• Familiarity with maritime sensors (acoustics, magnetic, positioning, etc.) 

• Experience with edge processing 

• Familiarity with ROS (Robot Operating System) 

• Experience in using AI/ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, Flux, or similar).