Lead Applied Scientist
Job description
About the role
You will drive full-cycle research development in the sensors domain and report directly to the Head of Research. In this capacity, you own the technical vision and execution for computer vision and sensor processing initiatives. You will guide the team to meet key milestones and timelines while balancing delivery pressure with exploratory work. Your focus will combine technical leadership in processing visual and low-level sensor data with people management and team performance tracking. You will mentor scientists to elevate both individual and collective output. You will bridge high-level research ideas with production constraints and feasibility.
Key facts
What you'll do
Lead a team of 4-8 Applied Scientists to advance research projects and algorithmic performance using a mix of state-of-the-art or "classical" techniques.
Own and maintain existing CV features to ensure robustness, scalability, and alignment with product requirements across the sensor stack.
Prototype new features within computer vision and sensor domains, running experiments from data collection to validation.
Coordinate with the data team to analyze research test data, develop evaluation metrics, and optimize algorithms for real-world conditions.
Design and implement rigorous test protocols that expose failure modes and guide iterative improvements in sensor processing pipelines.
Evaluate third-party tools, libraries, and datasets to determine their applicability to our sensors domain and integration pathways.
Translate ambiguous product requirements into concrete research questions and measurable success criteria for the team.
Champion best practices in experiment tracking, reproducibility, and documentation to accelerate knowledge sharing.
Perform code reviews and technical design critiques to uphold software engineering standards in research implementations.
Mentor applied scientists on algorithm design, debugging strategies, and performance profiling for sensor workloads.
Establish clear progress indicators and reporting rhythms to keep stakeholders informed of research status and risks.
Drive the definition of end-to-end feature behavior from sensor input to downstream decisioning in production environments.
Balance exploratory research with delivery milestones, ensuring that breakthroughs translate into tangible product value.
Champion a culture of curiosity, rigor, and ownership within the research team through coaching and hands-on contributions.
Requirements
5+ years of experience in research, data science, or data analysis within a relevant technical domain.
1+ years of experience leading a research group or technical team on data science projects with clear ownership and outcomes.
Strong background as a software engineer working on advanced algorithms, or as a researcher with a track record of shipping solid production-ready software engineering solutions.
Deep theoretical and practical applied knowledge of Computer Vision algorithms including detection, classification, tracking, and sensor fusion.
Solid understanding of deep learning frameworks, machine learning, and data analysis concepts with experience in model evaluation and iteration.
Strong experience in Python for data exploration, prototyping, and integration with production systems.
Good knowledge of CS fundamentals, algorithms, and data structures to design efficient and scalable sensor processing pipelines.
Bachelor's Degree in Math, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field that provides a foundation for advanced sensor research.
Proficient in written and spoken English to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
Nice to have
Experience with LLMs and Generative AI frameworks that could augment sensor data understanding or decisioning.
Experience with DSP, Computer Vision segmentation, Metric Learning, and Kalman filters for advanced sensor processing.
Experience with C++ or a willingness to develop strong C++ expertise to optimize performance-critical components.
Experience with AWS and Docker to deploy and scale research prototypes in cloud and containerized environments.
Practical notes
Remote working mode is available within Ukraine only.
Free meals, fruits, and snacks are provided when working in the office.
21 paid vacation days per year, paid public holidays according to the Ukrainian legislation.
Medical insurance is provided from day one, with sick leaves and medical leaves available.
Development opportunities include corporate courses, knowledge hubs, free English classes, and educational leaves.
Gig-contract engagement model applies to this role.