Research Engineer, Advanced Sensing & Smart Inspection
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 20, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 25, 2026. Agency for Science, Technology and Research scores B on the Alion truth index.
Job Description
Job Description
We are seeking a talented and motivated Research Engineer to develop agentic AI capabilities for intelligent quality inspection in advanced manufacturing. The role focuses on inspection solutions and AI-powered agent modules across automation, computer vision, machine learning, and hardware-integrated systems. You will help connect software and hardware into a closed-loop inspection pipeline that supports reliable, efficient, and autonomous quality decision-making.
This role offers the opportunity to work on next-generation autonomous inspection systems that improve reliability, efficiency, and decision-making in advanced manufacturing. You will help take ideas from prototype to deployable solutions combining AI algorithms, inspection hardware, sensing systems, and automation platforms. The ideal candidate brings strong AI/ML fundamentals, curiosity in emerging AI technologies, and the ability to prototype, validate, and iterate in a research-driven environment with hardware constraints.
Responsibilities:
Develop AI/ML models and agent modules; Train, validate, and evaluate AI models using sensor / inspection data, simulations outputs, and experiments.
Translate partner and customer needs into end-to-end inspection solutions linking data acquisition, hardware, inference, and decision-making.
Support experimental setup, calibration, data acquisition, and hardware troubleshooting.
Support hardware-software integration with cameras, illumination, sensors, robotic or motion stages, programmable controllers, and edge-computing devices.
Assist in setup, calibration, data acquisition, and hardware troubleshooting to ensure reliable data for AI model development and validation.
Prototype, test, and iterate AI solutions, with a focus on progressing successful concepts toward deployment.
Collaborate with teams across simulation, optimisation, knowledge storage, hardware integration, and validation.
Document research findings, model performance, validation results, and system architectures.
Keep abreast of advances in agentic AI, machine learning, computer vision, and automation to bring relevant new ideas to the project
Job Requirements
Job Requirements
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, AI, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
Strong AI/ML foundation, including model training, evaluation, and practical implementation.
Proficient in Python, with experience applying AI/ML in coursework, projects, internships, or research.
Solid software development fundamentals, including version control and maintainable code practices.
Basic understanding of hardware-software integration, such as sensors, cameras, edge devices, or experimental setups.
Self-motivated, analytical, and able to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Preferred Knowledge and Skills
Hands-on experience with PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar AI/ML frameworks.
Experience with computer vision libraries and techniques (e.g., OpenCV, object detection, segmentation, defect classification).
Familiarity with, or strong interest in learning, agentic AI patterns, LLM-based frameworks such as LangChain or LangGraph, and multi-agent orchestration.
Exposure to knowledge representation, vector databases, or retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
Experience taking prototypes to production, including automation, deployment, integration, or MLOps practices.
Background in signal processing, robotics/automation, or manufacturing quality inspection. Domain knowledge is beneficial but can be developed on the job.
Experience with inspection hardware such as cameras, lighting, sensors, motion stages, robotics, PLCs, microcontrollers, or edge AI devices, including setup, integration, calibration, or troubleshooting.