Advanced Innovation Manufacturing Engineer, Contingent Worker

This is a 12-month contract role located in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Pay

$50.00–$68.00 per hour

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401K

Responsibilities

• Design and implement computer vision models for defect detection, segmentation, and classification.
• Accelerate training cycles using synthetic data, active learning, and domain randomization to cover rare defects and specification variance.
• Package models and services using Docker and manage deployments through Kubernetes or equivalent orchestration tools.
• Implement version control, rollback strategies, and observability for latency, drift, and false-positive/false-negative metrics.
• Optimize inference for edge and embedded hardware (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson, Intel accelerators) to meet strict real-time latency requirements for moving-line inspection.
• Ensure consistent performance under varying lighting, optics, and surface conditions.
• Integrate vision systems with PLCs, encoders, triggers, and industrial networks using OPC-UA, MQTT, and REST protocols.
• Align deployments with ICS+, GALC, and TVIP architecture standards for plant-level connectivity and reliability.
• Lead data collection campaigns, manage annotation workflows, and establish quality gates for model validation.
• Utilize synthetic data pipelines and augmentation techniques to improve model robustness and reduce training time.
• Ensure uptime and availability targets are met through proactive monitoring, calibration (MSA), and backup/restore processes.
• Implement drift detection, audit false-out risks, and perform root cause analysis for inspection failures.
• Develop and deploy production-grade machine learning models for industrial vision inspection systems across manufacturing lines.
• Accelerate model development and training using advanced techniques such as synthetic data generation, ensuring high accuracy and generalization, and delivering containerized software optimized for edge hardware.
• Lead and manage projects from concept to launch for new technology first introduction to manufacturing, including creating schedules, establishing punch lists, and meeting established due dates and milestones.
• Search for innovative solutions, test them in a manufacturing setting, and develop business case justification to gain approval to purchase if trials prove successful.
• Collaborate closely with both internal and external groups to ensure quality and to integrate robust AI solutions into high-volume manufacturing environments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
• 2+ (5 preferred) years of experience in industrial machine vision and edge AI deployment.
• Proficiency in Python and C++ with strong knowledge of ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Hands-on experience with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with ONNX Runtime, TensorRT, and optimization for embedded hardware.
• Experience integrating vision systems with PLCs and industrial protocols (OPC-UA, MQTT).
• Experience managing the full model lifecycle: data collection, labeling, validation, rollout, monitoring, and retraining.
• Experience in areas such as object detection, classification, segmentation, and familiarity with mainstream object detection and semantic/instance segmentation models.
• Familiarity with industrial cameras, lighting, and optics, including trigger-based image capture.
• Experience balancing inspection accuracy with false positives vs flow-out risk in quality-critical applications.
• Ability to travel to all North American Manufacturing Centers along with Canada, Mexico, and Japan (25% or less travel required).
• Project management experience including writing detailed scope of work, creating schedules, managing vendors/contractors, and providing regular status updates.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Engineering or Advanced Degree in related fields.
• 2–5 years of experience (10 years may qualify for a higher rate).
• Academic research experience in new technology.
• Project management work involving internal and external parties – 6 months or greater.
• Experience deploying equipment including establishing RJ, PFMEA, and quality control plan.
• Experience deploying automotive production equipment.
• Experience in Robotics to include operation, teaching, maintenance, and safety.
• Expertise in synthetic data generation techniques (GANs, VAEs, NeRFs, Blender) and domain randomization for model generalization.
• Experience with high-speed inline inspection systems and vision-based process control.
• Knowledge of IIoT data pipelines and messaging standards.
• Strong understanding of calibration, measurement system analysis (MSA), and quality-critical inspection requirements.

Skills

• Ability to deliver production-ready AI solutions under strict timelines.
• Strong problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Commitment to quality, reliability, and continuous improvement in manufacturing environments.

Work Authorization: Green Card or US Citizen.