ML Engineer

About The Company

Tocaro Blue, LLC is at the forefront of maritime intelligence and autonomous systems, dedicated to advancing the capabilities of maritime navigation, detection, and autonomy through innovative AI and machine learning solutions. Our mission is to develop cutting-edge perception stacks and sensor fusion technologies that enable safer, more reliable, and fully autonomous maritime operations. With a focus on defense and commercial markets, we serve clients including the U.S. Navy, defense contractors, and leading OEMs in the marine industry. Our team comprises top-tier engineers and researchers committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in challenging maritime environments, including GPS-denied and cluttered waters. Tocaro Blue fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, offering a dynamic environment where technical excellence and impactful work go hand in hand.

About The Role

The Principle Machine Learning Engineer role at Tocaro Blue is a leadership position responsible for designing, developing, and deploying advanced ML models that enhance maritime perception systems. As a key architect of our perception stack, ProteusCore, you will lead efforts to create robust object detection, semantic segmentation, and tracking algorithms tailored for Radar and EO/IR sensors in complex maritime environments. This role involves pioneering novel deep learning architectures, optimizing models for resource-constrained edge hardware, and integrating sensor fusion techniques to improve classification accuracy in GPS-denied or cluttered scenarios. You will collaborate closely with cross-disciplinary teams including autonomy, fusion, and systems engineers to ensure seamless integration of ML outputs into multi-target tracking and SLAM pipelines. Your work will directly impact products used by defense agencies and commercial OEMs, shaping the future of maritime autonomy and sensor fusion technology.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or related field
• 7+ years of experience applying machine learning and signal processing to dynamic, real-world systems
• Proven expertise in semantic segmentation and object classification models, especially for non-vision sensors such as Radar, sonar, or medical imaging
• Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks such as TensorFlow/Keras, PyTorch, or equivalent
• Experience deploying ML models on embedded or edge platforms with optimized C++ inference layers
• Strong background in computer vision, temporal modeling (CNNs, transformers, RNNs), and sensor data analysis
• Experience with large-scale ML data pipelines, annotation strategies, and simulation-to-real transfer techniques
• Knowledge of maritime, automotive, or aerial robotics systems is preferred
• Passion for developing AI solutions in GPS-denied, cluttered, and low-visibility environments

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and refine custom deep learning architectures for Radar and EO/IR imagery, focusing on semantic segmentation and temporal tracking
• Create multi-stage ML pipelines combining context and characteristic models, segmentation, and classification tailored for low-SNR Radar data
• Train models on large proprietary datasets, employing design-of-experiment methodologies for data collection and annotation
• Optimize and deploy models on resource-constrained edge hardware platforms, including CPU-only and ARM64 architectures, with C++ inference layers
• Advance sensor fusion-aware ML models that integrate Radar, EO/IR, AIS, and cartography data for robust classification in GPS-denied or cluttered environments
• Collaborate with fusion and autonomy teams to ensure ML outputs are seamlessly integrated into multi-target tracking and SLAM pipelines
• Contribute to ML‑Ops workflows, managing data pipelines, continuous training, automated evaluation, and deployment processes
• Participate in field validation activities, including semi-monthly data collection trips at our Pensacola test facility

Benefits

• Competitive base salary ranging from $140,000 to $200,000, with potential equity opportunities
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
• 401(k) plan with 4% company matching
• Life and disability insurance coverage
• Generous paid time off and holiday leave
• Continuous learning and professional development opportunities through conferences and training
• Flexible hybrid and remote work arrangements for Southeast US-based candidates
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities and hands-on field validation activities
• Collaborative environment with top-tier engineers and researchers focused on impactful innovation

Equal Opportunity

Tocaro Blue, LLC is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. Our hiring decisions are based solely on individual skills, experience, and fit for the role. All employees must be eligible to obtain a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance, which is restricted to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. We value diversity and are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates.