Principal Software Engineer

Job Description

About Us:

Cognex is a global leader in the field of industrial machine vision. Companies around the world rely on Cognex’s state-of-the-art vision technology on our embedded cameras and software products to guide assembly, automate inspection, and speed up production and distribution. We are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment, guided by our "Work Hard, Play Hard, Move Fast" culture, which values innovation and perseverance in a dynamic and fun atmosphere.

This is a hybrid role in our Natick, MA corporate HQ.

This position is for an experienced Software Engineer in the Core Vision Technology team, focused on developing the best-in-class computer vision algorithms/AI models that power Cognex’s industrial bar code readers and 2D vision tools on a broad range of platforms.

Job Summary:

We are seeking an experienced software developer with deep knowledge of SDLC, solid design thinking, C/C++ coding and creative problem solving skills. You will play the role of a chief architect on the team, who will lead the productization of vision algorithms and AI models on multiple Cognex products, making sound architectural choices for the future, advocate for engineering excellence, mentor junior engineers and participate in code development.

Essential Functions:

1. Work with R&D, product, hardware and other software engineering teams to develop and productize innovative vision algorithms on different platforms.
2. Lead software and API design discussions.
3. Develop and maintain high-quality, production-grade code and set coding standards for the rest of the team.
4. Debug and troubleshoot complex issues in an integrated hardware and software platform.
5. Ensure best-in-practice software development processes; mentor and guide other engineers.
6. Exert technical influence and vision across teams.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Essential:

1. Hands-on experience as a Tech Lead on complex, cross-functional projects.
2. Proficiency in C/C++ and Python.
3. System design and API/tool design experience.
4. Prior experience with the full SDLC including development processes, source code control, build systems, formal bug tracking, etc.
5. Knowledge of DevOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines, automated testing and infrastructure as code.
6. Experience with Agile and Scrum methodologies for effective project management and team collaboration.
7. Strong debugging and problem-solving skills.
8. Ability to deal with ambiguity and strong communication skills.

Desired:

1. Prior experience in a Machine Learning Engineering role and/or productizing AI models for business or consumer applications.
2. High level understanding of AI concepts such as model architectures, machine learning frameworks, model life cycle and evaluation metrics.

Minimum education and work experience required:

1. Bachelors or Masters degree from a top engineering school in EE, CS or equivalent.
2. 7+ years relevant and high tech work experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Cognex is an equal opportunity employer. Cognex evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.