Principal AI Engineer, Machine Learning Operations

BlackSky

. Lead full-lifecycle model engineering from problem formulation and dataset curation through training, validation, deployment, and error analysis .

Posted 10/8/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesLead💰 $185,000 - $215,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in leading full-lifecycle model engineering, including the design, deployment, and optimization of computer vision and machine learning architectures for geospatial applications. Proficient in technical mentorship and communication, ensuring effective collaboration across cross-functional teams.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Expert-Level Proficiency In PythonDeep Learning Systems Development Using PyTorchProduction-Grade Computer Vision Model DeploymentGeospatial Data Pipeline Development Using RasterioAWS ML Workload Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Computer VisionMachine LearningDeep LearningModel EvaluationObject DetectionImage ClassificationChange DetectionSegmentationTime-Series AnalysisPerformance Optimization

Soft Skills

Technical CommunicationMentorshipLeadership

Tools & Technologies

PyTorchRasterioGDALGeoPandasShapelyXarrayZarrAWSGPU-Based TrainingCloud Computing

Industry Keywords

Geospatial DataRemote SensingSatellite ConditionsModel RobustnessDomain AdaptationITAR ComplianceCross-Sensor Domain ShiftsDataset CurationError AnalysisTechnical Proposals

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AWSCloudPythonPyTorchRemote Sensing

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead full-lifecycle model engineering from problem formulation and dataset curation through training, validation, deployment, and error analysis
Drive model robustness and domain adaptation for challenging satellite conditions, including off-nadir angles, low light, seasonal variations, weather distortions, dense environments, and cross-sensor domain shifts
Ensure models are trained, versioned, deployed, monitored, and maintained reliably in production
Communicate technical progress, risks, and technology stack to cross-functional leadership and Product partners
Contribute to proposals and white papers
Provide technical mentorship, lead design reviews and experiment planning, and foster technical excellence across the engineering team
Perform other job-related duties as assigned
Report directly to the Director of Innovative Solutions
Design, scale, deploy, and automate computer vision and machine learning architectures for space-based intelligence and real-time geospatial analytics
Optimize edge and cloud compute environments and deliver resilient capabilities

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum of 12 years of hands-on software engineering experience, including at least four years developing computer vision or machine learning solutions for geospatial, remote sensing, or similarly complex imagery
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent practical experience
Expert-level proficiency in Python
Demonstrated experience developing deep learning systems using PyTorch or comparable modern ML frameworks
Experience designing, training, evaluating, and deploying production-grade computer vision models for object detection, segmentation, change detection, image classification, or time-series analysis
Strong experience with remote sensing imagery and geospatial data challenges
Hands-on experience building geospatial data and CV pipelines using Rasterio, GDAL, GeoPandas, Shapely, xarray, Zarr, or similar technologies
Experience taking CV capabilities from experimentation through production, including model evaluation, deployment, and performance optimization
Experience developing and operating ML workloads in AWS, including GPU-based training and inference
Strong technical communication skills for technical and non-technical stakeholders
Ability to provide technical leadership and mentorship without direct management authority
Work this role supports requires holding US citizenship
For ITAR compliance: must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual, or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses
15 days of PTO
11 Company holidays
Four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date)
One day of paid volunteerism leave per year
Parental leave
401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employee Stock Purchase Program
Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
Employer matching donations
Professional development
Choice of Mac or PC
Awesome swag