Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Tocaro Blue is a company focused on transforming maritime intelligence with cutting-edge AI and machine learning technologies. They are seeking a Principal Machine Learning Engineer to lead the development of custom ML models for maritime autonomy, specifically in object detection and tracking in dynamic environments.
Responsibilities
- Invent and refine custom deep learning architectures for Radar and EO/IR imagery, with an emphasis on semantic segmentation and temporal tracking
- 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
Skills
- 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)
- 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
Benefits
- Potential equity in a rapidly growing company
- 401(k) with 4% company matching
- Full health/dental/vision
- Life & disability insurance
- Generous PTO
- Continuous learning via conferences, training, and professional growth
- Hybrid and remote options for Southeastern US-based candidates
- Hands-on field validation through semi-monthly data collection trips at our Pensacola test facility
Company Overview