Embedded ML Engineer – Gesture Recognition

Overview

Embedded ML Engineer  (Sesame). We are seeking an engineer at the intersection of embedded systems and machine learning to enable rich, reliable interactions on wearable devices. The candidate will work across the software stack with hardware, firmware, and product teams to make interactions effortless and consistent for every user in every environment.

About Sesame

Sesame believes in a future where computers are lifelike with the ability to see, hear, and collaborate with us in natural, human ways. We are designing a new kind of computer focused on making voice companions part of daily life. Our team includes founders from Oculus and Ubiquity6, with leaders from Meta, Google, and Apple, spanning hardware and software expertise. Join us in shaping a future where computers truly come alive.

What you will do

• Design, train, and deploy algorithms for gesture detection on ultra-low-power embedded hardware.

• Evaluate and adapt larger ML models for running on mobile-class hardware.

• Own the full development cycle: system design, data collection and curation, synthetic data generation, model training and evaluation, and on-device optimization.

• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and product teams to integrate algorithms with evolving hardware designs.

• Identify promising approaches from literature and create new methods to achieve unique goals.

Required Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in Software Engineering, ML Research, or related fields.

• Ability to work autonomously in ambiguous environments.

• Proven experience building and deploying ML algorithms on embedded or resource-constrained devices.

• Proficiency in Python and C/C++, with experience in PyTorch or Tensor Flow.

• Hands-on experience with end-to-end ML workflows, from data capture to on-device deployment.

• Strong grasp of signal processing and/or time-series analysis for sensor data.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across disciplines.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in computer science, electrical engineering, machine learning, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in a relevant field.

• Experience with wearables, IMUs, or tactile/force sensors.

• Familiarity with synthetic data generation and augmentation techniques.

• Experience in a startup or fast-moving product environment.

• Experience deploying models in products.

• Track record of optimizing algorithms for power, latency, and memory footprint.

Benefits

• 401k matching

• 100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental benefits

• Unlimited PTO and sick time

• Flexible spending account matching (medical FSA)

Benefits do not apply to contingent/contract workers

Employment details

• Role:
Full-time

• Seniority level:
Mid-Senior level

• Job function:
Engineering and Information Technology

•

Location:

San Francisco, CA

Sesame is committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. We welcome all qualified applicants, embracing diversity in race, gender, identity, orientation, ability, and more. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities—contact  for assistance.

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