AI & Image Processing Scientist

Location:          Waterbeach, UK
Department:     Engineering
Reports to:       Chief Scientist
Type:                 Full-time, Permanent
 
Company Profile
Thermoteknix Systems Ltd, founded in 1982 and based in Cambridge, is a world leader in thermal imaging, night vision, and augmented reality systems. Our award-winning technologies are trusted by defence, security, and industrial customers in over 70 countries. With in-house R&D, cutting-edge innovation, and a global reputation for quality, we design and manufacture solutions that perform in the toughest environments.

Reporting to the Chief Scientist, you will research, develop and validate AI, machine learning and image processing algorithms for our thermal imaging cores and wider imaging product range. AI will form a substantial part of the role, with responsibility for developing and training models alongside conventional image processing, detector correction and calibration.
 
You will take ideas from scientific investigation and proof of concept through to validated product implementation. Working with software, firmware, FPGA, electronics and optical engineering colleagues, you will balance image quality and model performance with real-time processing, memory, latency and power constraints.
 
Key Responsibilities
AI and Machine Learning

• Develop and train machine learning and deep learning models for imaging applications, including image enhancement, object detection, classification, segmentation and scene understanding.
• Select and evaluate model architectures, training methods and loss functions, comparing results against conventional algorithms and defined product requirements.
• Investigate AI methods for noise reduction, image restoration, super-resolution and image fusion, assessing image fidelity and behaviour on unfamiliar scenes.
• Review emerging AI research, reproduce promising methods and assess their feasibility for Thermoteknix products.

 
Image Processing and Imaging Science

• Develop conventional algorithms for noise reduction, contrast enhancement, dynamic range compression, detail enhancement, registration and stabilisation.
• Develop detector correction and calibration methods, including non-uniformity correction, defective pixel compensation, temperature drift compensation and shutterless processing.
• Analyse image artefacts and system limitations, investigating the effects of detectors, optics, electronics and processing software, and combining analytical and learned methods where beneficial.

 
Data and Validation

• Plan image and video data collection and annotation with engineering colleagues, and maintain representative datasets with clear provenance and version control.
• Design reproducible experiments and separate training, validation and test datasets to prevent data leakage; assess generalisation across cameras, environments and operating conditions.
• Define image quality and AI performance metrics, including accuracy, false alarms, missed detections, latency and temporal stability, as relevant to the application.
• Validate algorithms through laboratory testing and field evaluation, investigate failure cases and ensure enhancement preserves scene content and avoids misleading artefacts.

 
Embedded Implementation and Product Support

• Prototype algorithms and models in Python, MATLAB or similar tools, and work with engineering teams to integrate them into real-time product software and processing pipelines.
• Optimise models for embedded deployment using appropriate methods such as quantisation, pruning and hardware acceleration, measuring effects on accuracy, image quality and resource use.
• Support the investigation of production and customer image quality issues, using data analysis and experiments to recommend and validate improvements.

 
Research and Technical Collaboration

• Work with the Chief Scientist to define research priorities, assess technical risks and contribute to product feasibility studies, design reviews and intellectual property development.
• Maintain clear algorithm specifications, documented code, model and dataset versions, training configurations and test reports so that results and product releases are traceable.

 
 
Required Skills & Experience

• A degree in Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Electronic Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Practical experience developing, training and evaluating machine learning or deep learning models for image or video applications, gained in industry or applied research.
• Strong Python skills and practical experience with a deep learning framework such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Experience developing conventional image processing algorithms, supported by a sound understanding of imaging fundamentals, noise, sampling, resolution and calibration.
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills, including statistics, linear algebra, numerical methods and optimisation.
• Experience preparing datasets, designing experiments, selecting evaluation metrics and diagnosing overfitting, data leakage and generalisation problems.
• An understanding of the practical constraints of real-time imaging systems and the ability to translate research into implementable algorithms.
• A structured approach to testing, version control and technical documentation, with clear communication and effective collaboration across engineering disciplines.

 
Desirable Skills & Experience

• An MSc or PhD in machine learning, computer vision, image processing, imaging science or a related field.
• Experience with thermal or infrared imaging, uncooled microbolometer detectors, and their correction and calibration requirements.
• Experience deploying and profiling neural networks on embedded platforms, including model conversion, quantisation and inference optimisation.
• C or C++ development experience, or experience with GPU, FPGA, DSP or other accelerated processing platforms.
• Experience with multi-sensor fusion, thermal and visible imagery, low-light imaging, motion estimation or temporal processing.
• Experience managing model training and evaluation pipelines and transferring research into commercial products.

 
Personal Attributes
You will be curious, methodical and practical, with the persistence to investigate difficult problems and the judgement to assess new techniques critically. You will work independently, explain findings clearly and make evidence-based decisions that support reliable product performance.

What We Offer
Thermoteknix offers the opportunity to develop AI and image processing technologies within an established, independent British engineering company. Working closely with the Chief Scientist and wider R&D team, you will have considerable technical variety and responsibility, taking ideas from initial research and experimental prototypes through to imaging and augmented reality products used by customers worldwide.