Robotics/Autonomy Engineer - Computer Vision

Job description

* Knightwerx is seeking a highly skilled Robotics/Autonomy Engineer – Computer Vision to lead development and integration of advanced perception, vision-based navigation, and autonomy software for a small, unmanned electric aircraft. We operate in a fast-paced development environment that balances innovation and ingenuity with practicality and reliability. You’ll collaborate with flight-software, aeromechanical, and avionics teams to deliver robust autonomy for GPS-denied, contested, and complex environments from prototype through production. The role emphasizes cutting-edge computer vision, sensor fusion, and real-time autonomy algorithms to enable resilient operations in austere conditions.

Work Experience

* Bachelor’s or higher degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related discipline.

* 5+ years of relevant industry experience in computer vision, robotics, or embedded systems.

* Proven experience developing image signal processing (ISP) and computer vision (CV) software.

* Hands-on experience with MIPI Camera Serial Interface (CSI) and writing drivers for image sensors.

* Experience integrating and operating camera systems in UAVs or other autonomous platforms.

* Knowledge of video codecs (H.264/H.265) and network protocols for video transmission (RTSP, MPEG-TS).

Attributes

* Effective collaborator in cross-functional team environments.

* Open to feedback and committed to continuous improvement.

* Innovative, hands-on, and practical in problem solving.

* Multi-disciplinary mindset with strong engineering analysis skills.

* Goal-driven, resilient, and accountable throughout the design process

Primary Duties

* Design, develop, and optimize computer vision and ISP software for real-time robotic and UAV applications.

* Implement and maintain camera drivers, video pipelines, and hardware-accelerated vision algorithms.

* Integrate vision systems with navigation, control, and autonomy stacks.

* Ensure software is scalable, maintainable, and efficient across embedded and distributed platforms.

* Collaborate with hardware, systems, and autonomy engineers to deliver end-to-end solutions.

* Participate in documentation of design, implementation, and test procedures.

* Troubleshoot and debug system-level issues in camera and vision pipelines.

* Stay current with emerging CV/ML methods, hardware accelerators, and best practices.

Tasks

* Develop and optimize computer vision algorithms for perception, navigation, and target detection in GPS-denied and contested environments

* Integrate vision systems with autonomy software, including sensor fusion, SLAM, and obstacle avoidance

* Select, configure, and test vision sensors and compute payloads to support autonomous behaviors

* Implement and validate real-time autonomy features using vision-based inputs and multi-sensor data

* Ensure perception and autonomy software is scalable, maintainable, and efficient for prototype through production

* Participate in rigorous field testing, data collection, and refinement of vision/autonomy performance

* Document software design, algorithms, and test procedures for technical teams and stakeholders

Skills

* Strong understanding of image formation, filtering, feature extraction, segmentation, optical flow, object detection, tracking, and recognition.

* Experience with camera calibration (intrinsic/extrinsic) and time synchronization of multi-sensor data.

* Proficiency with OpenCV, GStreamer, and V4L2.

* Practical experience with hardware acceleration (CUDA, SIMD, Vulkan, etc.).

* Familiarity with Nvidia Jetson platforms, FPGAs, and VPUs (Intel Movidius, Coral TPU).

* Experience with deep learning–based CV methods (CNNs, transformers, object detection/segmentation frameworks such as YOLO, Faster R-CNN, Mask R-CNN, DETR, SAM, etc.).

* Knowledge of classical CV methods (SIFT, SURF, ORB, HOG, Harris/FAST/ORB keypoints).

* Understanding of image/video stabilization, SLAM, and 3D reconstruction fundamentals.

* Experience with containerization (Docker) and container orchestration.

* Proficiency with version control systems (Git) and build tools (CMake).

* Strong programming skills in C++, Python, and/or Rust.

Requirements

* Must have US citizenship

* On-site, collaborative work environment