Senior Machine Learning Engineer

About the role

Are you an experienced machine learning researcher ready to push the limits of AI in one of the toughest domains—maritime autonomy? At Tocaro Blue, your expertise in designing, training, and deploying custom ML models will directly advance our foundational perception stack, ProteusCore radar tracking and ApolloCore radar/camera fusion.

Responsibilities

• Build ML models for object detection, semantic segmentation, and tracking.
• Design algorithms capable of distinguishing vessels, land, shoreline constructions, wakes, and markers in dynamic maritime environments where off-the-shelf models fall short.
• Organize dataset design, data collection in real and simulated environments, and synthetic augmentation of radar and camera datasets.
• Develop multi-stage ML pipelines (context + characteristic models, segmentation + classification) tailored to low-SNR Radar returns.
• Train models on proprietary large-scale datasets (millions of Radar samples and camera sequences) with design-of-experiment methods for data collection and annotation.
• Optimize and deploy models to resource-constrained edge hardware (CPU-only and ARM64 platforms), including C++ inference layers.
• Advance fusion-aware ML models that integrate Radar with EO/IR, AIS, and cartography for robust classification in GPS-denied or cluttered environments.
• Collaborate with fusion and autonomy engineers to ensure ML outputs integrate seamlessly into multi-target tracking and SLAM pipelines.
• Contribute to ML-Ops workflows: data management, large-scale training, continuous integration of new field data, and automated evaluation pipelines.

Requirements

Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or related field
7+ years applying machine learning and signal processing to real-world dynamic systems (graduate research counts if directly applicable)
Demonstrated mastery of semantic segmentation and object classification models, ideally applied to non-vision sensor modalities
Expert-level Python skills with ML frameworks (TensorFlow/Keras, PyTorch, or equivalent)

Preferred Expertise

• Track record of developing ML models beyond standard YOLO-style detectors, particularly for segmentation of noisy or sparse data (Radar, sonar, or medical imaging)
• Strong background in computer vision and temporal modeling (CNNs, transformers, RNNs for sequential sensor data)
• Experience deploying ML to embedded/edge platforms with optimized C++ inference
• Knowledge of marine, automotive, or aerial robotics systems
• Contributions to large-scale ML data pipelines: annotation strategies, dataset balancing, simulation-to-real transfer
• Passion for pushing the boundaries of AI in GPS-denied, cluttered, and low-visibility environments

Why Tocaro Blue?

• Competitive Compensation & Growth
• Comprehensive benefits: 401(k) with 4% company matching, full health/dental/vision, life & disability insurance, generous PTO
• Continuous learning via conferences, training, and professional growth
• Innovation-First Culture
• Direct impact on defining the AI backbone of maritime autonomy
• Work on problems unsolved in automotive AI: Radar segmentation, maritime multi-object tracking, sensor fusion in GPS-denied waters
• Collaborative environment with elite engineers and researchers
• Exciting Work Environment
• Full-time, in person
• Birmingham (AL)
• Hands-on field validation through semi-monthly data collection trips at our Pensacola test facility
• A culture that balances innovation with personal growth
• Equal Opportunity & Eligibility