CV/ML Engineering Manager

Allen Control Systems

$130K — $160K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years experience in machine learning-based computer vision and image processing, preferably in robotics.
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related fields with a focus on machine learning.
  • Experience managing or leading a CV/ML engineering team, with aspirations for further management.
  • Proven track record of owning technical roadmaps for perception or autonomy products.
  • Proficiency in Python and C++, experience with TensorFlow, PyTorch; familiarity with embedded systems preferred.
  • Ability to collaborate with senior leadership in a fast-paced engineering environment.

Responsibilities

  • Manage and grow the CV/ML team, including hiring and developing engineers.
  • Define the CV/ML technical roadmap in partnership with Chief Engineers and VP of AI.
  • Translate product goals into team plans and staffing decisions.
  • Develop and optimize computer vision algorithms for real-time drone detection and classification.
  • Coordinate integration milestones with hardware teams for the CV/ML stack delivery.
  • Ensure engineering quality through design review and rigorous testing scenarios.

Benefits

  • ACS Equity Package
  • Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
  • Paid Time Off
Full Job Description
Computer Vision & Machine Learning Engineering Manager for Autonomous Anti-Drone Systems

About The Role

We are looking for a Computer Vision/Machine Learning Engineering Manager to join the Computer Vision and Machine Learning team behind our autonomous gun turret, with a focus on real-time drone detection, tracking, and classification. This begins as a player-coach role: you will contribute directly to the CV/ML stack while managing and growing the team, with your hands-on share shifting toward management and technical review as the team scales. You will partner with our Chief Engineers and VP of AI to define the CV/ML technical roadmap and own its execution, translating product goals into team plans and delivery commitments as we harden the prototype into a military-grade system.

What You'll Do
  • Manage and grow a CV/ML team: lead the existing engineers, hire across levels from Junior through Senior Staff, and develop your engineers' careers and technical skills.
  • Partner with Chief Engineers and VP of AI to define the CV/ML technical roadmap, and own its execution within your team.
  • Translate product and company goals, such as new weapon system variants, engagement ranges, hardening milestones, into quarterly team plans, priorities, and staffing decisions.
  • Contribute directly to development and optimization of computer vision algorithms for real-time drone detection, tracking, and classification.
  • Own delivery commitments for the CV/ML stack, coordinating integration milestones with electrical engineering and hardware teams.
  • Drive engineering quality through design and code review, and rigorous testing and validation practices across environmental conditions and scenarios.


What You'll Need
  • Deep expertise and 10+ years of experience working on machine-learning-based computer vision and traditional image and signal processing, ideally in the context of robotics, including a proven track record of deploying CV systems in real-time or safety-critical applications.
  • At least a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with a strong focus on machine learning and computer vision.
  • Experience managing or tech-leading a team of CV/ML engineers, and a desire to grow into a larger management scope.
  • Evidence of successfully owning a technical roadmap or planning process for a perception, autonomy, or similar product area.
  • Proficiency in Python and C++, and experience with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar; experience with embedded systems and sensor integration (cameras, LIDAR, RADAR) strongly preferred.
  • Comfort driving execution while collaborating on technical direction with senior technical leadership, in a fast-moving, engineering-first environment.


You'll Stand Out
  • Formal management experience, including having hired and scaled a CV/ML or perception team at a startup or in a 0-to-1 product environment.
  • Ph.D. in computer vision, machine learning, or related fields.
  • Experience with object detection and tracking in challenging real-world conditions such as small targets, cluttered backgrounds, or low-contrast imagery.
  • Background in defense, aerospace, or autonomous systems where performance and reliability requirements are non-negotiable.
  • Experience deploying and optimizing models on edge hardware such as NVIDIA Jetson or similar embedded GPU platforms, or with multi-sensor fusion across modalities such as optical and infrared cameras.
  • Experience leading teams through field testing and hardware integration cycles, not just software-only development.


What We Offer
  • Competitive salary
  • ACS Equity Package
  • Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
  • Paid Time Off

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