Autonomous Vehicle AI Engineer III - Computer Vision and Path Planning

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We're working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

As an Autonomous Vehicle AI Engineer, you'll have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of transportation by crafting the vision systems and decision-making algorithms that define the safety and reliability of our autonomous vehicles. Your contributions will be vital in driving forward innovation in a field that promises to revolutionize global mobility.

• Contribute to the development of AI-driven computer vision algorithms to accurately perceive and understand a vehicle's environment using data from cameras, LiDAR, and other sensors.
• Develop, train, and test machine learning models for object detection, classification, semantic segmentation, and anomaly detection specific to autonomous driving scenarios.
• Implement and test path planning algorithms using modern decision-making techniques to ensure safe and efficient navigation of space vehicles during in-space operations.
• Train, validate, and deploy neural networks for real-time performance on flight-qualified hardware, optimizing for accuracy, speed, and reliability.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of GNC, software, and hardware engineers to integrate AI/ML solutions into the vehicle's avionics and flight software systems.
• Design, build, and use high-fidelity simulation environments to test and validate autonomous algorithms against a wide range of mission scenarios and off-nominal conditions.
• Analyze data from simulations and flight tests to assess and improve the performance of perception and decision-making systems.
• Support the continuous improvement of in-house machine learning pipelines and tools for data management, model training, and performance monitoring.
• Optimize AI models for edge and cloud deployment, addressing challenges such as latency, model compression, and distributed computing for vehicle fleets.

• PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, AI, Machine Learning, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• Alternatively, a Master's degree in a related field with demonstrated project, research, professional, or internship experience in autonomous systems.
• Demonstrated experience applying deep learning to computer vision or decision-making.
• Strong theoretical understanding of sensor fusion, environmental perception, and path planning algorithms.
• High proficiency in Python and/or C++, along with experience using deep learning libraries such as PyTorch or Tensor Flow.
• A passion for space exploration and a desire to apply your skills to solve complex, real-world challenges.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, cross-functional team environment.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a creative and first-principles approach.

• Experience designing, implementing, and training reinforcement learning (RL) agents to solve complex optimization or control problems, including problem formulation, state/action space design, and reward shaping.
• Experience with simulation environments (e.g., Gazebo, NVIDIA Isaac Sim) and their application to robotics or aerospace.
• Familiarity with classical Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) concepts.
• Experience with transformers and large machine learning models.
• Hands-on experience with deploying and debugging software on embedded systems or robotic hardware.

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.
• Paid Time Off:
  Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation.

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated workforce. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic…