What We Do:

Humanity wastes or burns $50B of recyclable plastics each year. This adds to the 50 trillion particles of microplastics in our environment, generates toxic methane gas and PFAS runoff, and emits millions of tons of greenhouse gasses. Recycling isn’t profitable today because individuals do a poor job of separating trash, recyclables, and compostables accurately. It’s not their fault; the rules are complicated and it’s hard to tell what goes where. To solve this problem, rStream builds systems that sort recyclables and screen out contamination from the recycling stream. Our goal is to make recycling profitable and begin a new era of material recovery.

Why Work With Us:

At rStream, we don’t just build technology – we shape the future of sustainable waste management. If you are a bold, innovative thinker who is passionate about leveraging AI, computer vision, and robotics to solve complex real-world challenges, you will thrive in our collaborative and high-impact environment.

About the Role:

Computer vision is one of the cornerstones of rStream’s technology, and is how we ensure that recyclable and compostable objects are collected and separated for remanufacturing. We are hiring a Principal Computer Vision Engineer to be a functional leader in R&D bringing computer vision solutions through prototyping and into production.

As Principal Computer Vision Engineer, you will work to:

• Reshape the fundamental economics of recycling by increasing the effectiveness of automated sorting systems
• Architect full-stack vision solutions to guide the robotic sorting system and collect a variety of crucial analytics about waste objects
• Investigate novel approaches CV to optimize (or rethink) the performance of our vision system(s)
• Lead efforts to improve CV training sets
• Implement models, data pipelines, and active learning in real world use cases driven by customer demands
• Lead research assistants and junior software engineers
• Help build an effective AI team by shaping best-practices, fostering inclusive culture, and advocating for positive change.

The successful candidate will have:

Required:

• Expertise with computer vision
• PhD or master’s in computer science or 4+ years of experience in a related field
• Demonstrated ability to initiate and lead large-scale technical projects
• Demonstrated ability to work with large scale vision-based datasets
• 4+ years experience writing production level code in Python

Preferred:

• Experience with segmentation and object detection
• Experience with advanced data augmentation
• Familiarity with various imaging modalities (RGB, NIR, etc.)
• Framework & Libraries: PyTorch, OpenCV, NumPy
• Familiarity with version tracking (i.e., GitHub)
• Experience deploying CV/ML models in real-world applications
• Experience with fast-paced iteration of prototypes/products
• Effective collaboration, team work, and communication skills
• Startup ready mentality

Bonus:

• Willingness to work with physical samples (trash!) for the betterment of the vision system
• Prior experience at a startup or innovation team
• Experience with cloud computing, databases, and storage
• Knowledge of cameras and image processing
• Other Language Familiarity: C++, Rust
• Specialized Skills: Familiarity with automation/robotics and IoT protocols
• Scientific background with potentially applicable technologies - we love crazy ideas!

Working Location(s):

• In-person or hybrid at rStream's Somerville MA Headquarters, Greentown Labs preferred
• Primarily remote opportunities are available in exceptional circumstances - please indicate if this is you

Stand out from the crowd- Tell us a little about a time you implemented something you read about in a research paper in your email submission.

How to Apply: Please email applications to careers@rstreamrecycling.com

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary: $80,000/yr - $225,000

Equity Grant: The candidate selected for this role will be recommended for a stock option grant commensurate with the position and the candidate’s qualifications.

Benefits Information:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Unlimited PTO

rStream is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity of thought, access, and experiences. Qualified individuals seeking employment with us are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.