Job for a rule-loving engineer?

As an engineer you don't have much of a career path, unless you want to go into management. (I advise against it.) So as a way of recognizing professional seniority and competence the role of Principal Engineer was created.

In this context, “Principal” implies head or most senior. Every so often though, I see jobs advertised for “Principle Engineer”. “Principle” has an entirely different meaning. A principle is a rule or fundamental doctrine. So I assume a Principle Engineer creates rules. I imagine they could be machine vision rules, in which case he or she would be a Machine Vision Principle Engineer, but this doesn't sound like the kind of work a senior or highly experienced machine vision specialist would be engaged in.

What's the takeaway? If you should be writing a job description for a highly experienced machine vision specialist, title it “Principal Engineer” and I might apply. I am not however interested in being a “Principle Engineer.”

Opportunity to do machine vision research

The Bristol Robotics Laboratory, “a collaborative research partnership of the University of the West of England and the University of Bristol” is offering a “Funded full-time PhD studentship in 3D computer vision”.

Details are available at on their “Jobs at BRL” web page.

This is a huge opportunity for a young person who wants to build a name for themselves in the world of 3D machine vision. I don’t know what it would be like getting a visa to study in the UK, but if I was thirty years younger I’d want to give this a go.

I’d add that I’ve been to Bristol, and seems like a pretty decent place to live. Expensive and a little damp, but hey, you’d be in the lab doing exciting things with cameras, robots and software, so what’s the problem?

Camera design/development jobs

In what I take as another sign of industry growth, I noticed that camera-maker JAI are hiring. They’re seeking a Software Engineer and a Project Engineer for their operation in San Jose, California. (I think that’s what used to be Pulnix, many years ago.)

San Jose is not the cheapest place in the world to live, although it has its compensations – San Francisco is a few miles north, the Pacific Coast just a little to the west, blue skies… As these are what might be described as “high-end” jobs requiring very specialized skills, I suspect the pay and benefits won’t be too shabby either.

On a broader note, these job openings would suggest that JAI have some development projects underway, and that in turn implies some confidence about future business. But, (like the Wall Street Journal, I have to follow every piece of good news with a negative twist,) we should remember that much, maybe even a majority, of JAI’s business is in traffic and security. Thus it would be unwise to assume that these new cameras (if that’s the development goal,) are intended for or predicated on the industrial machine vision market.

Still good news though.

If you’re looking for a job…

There seems no shortage of machine vision jobs these days, which means that salaries do appear to be creeping up, but if you’re in need of a new opportunity where should you look?

I advise people to start with the LinkedIn machine vision groups: I’m seeing an increasing number of positions being advertised in those, and there are several recruiter-members, so even if you don’t see something that grabs you, they’ll no doubt be pleased to hear from you.

Dice used to have a number of machine vision jobs, though for some reason I’m not seeing so many there. (Perhaps they’ve all migrated to LinkedIn.)

However, I was recently sent a link to the 50 best engineering job sites, and that does appear to be exactly what it says, so you might want to spend a little time there.

Good luck!

Machine vision application engineering job

The job market in machine vision is really heating up now as integration houses find they’re turning business away. This is good news for those of us working in the industry, and great news for those who’ve found themselves freelancing or “between jobs.”

The most recent such position to slide across my desk is in south east Michigan, for a company called Leoni. I know Leoni more as a robotics and automation house than a vision integrator, but there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be hiring vision specialists.

The job is actually advertised on the AIA Career Center, so if you’re interested, here’s the link: Career Center.

LabVIEW machine vision job

An interesting job has appeared on Dice in recent days. A company in Pennsylvania is looking for a LabVIEW developer with machine vision experience (or should that be a machine vision developer with LabVIEW experience?) to work on some interesting projects, such as:

• A seed germination inspection system
• A colored plate defect detection system
  

No word on what money is being offered, but good LabVIEW people know their worth.

Interestingly, the hiring company is not too concerned about candidates having LabVIEW certification but they do say that a pre-employment programming test will be given. Sounds like a good practice to me.

To read the details, use this link: LabVIEW Software Developer.

Machine Vision Jobs

In a diversion from the advertised posting (if you’d been following along yesterday you’ll have been expecting a second piece on image focus,) I’d like to share with you details of a couple of jobs that caught my eye.

A recruitment company is looking for a Test Manufacturing Engineer 3D Machine Vision, and a Microsoft C++ Machine Vision Software Designer Engineer to work in Bridgeton, Missouri. These both read like fairly high-level machine vision jobs, requiring deep understanding of light, optics, image processing and especially the relatively new field of 3D. The quoted salaries are in the $60-$80K range.

Now I don’t know much about the cost of living in Bridgeton, MO, but these salaries seem very low for the type of expertise they’re after. I’m pretty sure housing is less expensive than in say, San Francisco, but on the other hand, is Bridgeton quite as alluring to young, mobile technology professionals as somewhere like Boulder?

I dare say there are talented folks that, for various reasons will be interested in these jobs, but those salaries are not going to attract a plethora of highly qualified candidates from around the country.

Tomorrow we’ll get back to focusing.

Where to find machine vision jobs

A reader contacted me recently to ask where he should look for jobs in our industry. I’ve already shared my thoughts with him, but as this is probably a question that interests many of you I’m going to share some suggestions here too.

The first point I should mention is that my comments are geared towards the US, because that’s where I live. If you’re in Europe I only know of one job hunting site that you should look at, and that’s LinkedIn.

LinkedIn, for those who aren’t familiar, is a kind of Facebook for professional people. It has a number of special interest groups, (there are several for machine vision,) and I see a growing number of positions advertised.

Another good option, at least for those of you in North America, seems to be Dice. Dice deals mainly in IT jobs but I’ve seen a number of machine vision positions advertised there.

Where else do you look? Well the AIA has a jobs page but as it hasn’t been updated since March 2010 I suggest that’s not a good place to look. I also wouldn’t recommend Monster or CareerBuilder as both will flood you with positions you’re not suited for.

So are there any other options? If anyone knows a good jobs site for machine vision people, please let me know. Other than the two I’ve already mentioned. You’re best bet is to start networking. Ours is a small industry and word gets around fast, so if you’re looking for a new position, spread the word (discretely – you may not want your current employer to know!)

Machine vision job in Colorado

I’ve never been to Colorado but I’m told it’s a wonderful state, full or outdoorsy types with something of a San Francisco or Seattle vibe about it. So if I was a great C++ programmer I’d probably be applying to this great job for a machine vision software engineer, as advertised on Dice.

No word on who the company is or the salary on offer, but it wouldn’t hurt to fire off a resume.

Cognex are hiring

This must be a sign of better times ahead for machine vision: industry-leader Cognex is looking to fill some software engineering positions. If you’re a demon C and C++ programmer and know a thing or two about vision technology, this might be the opportunity you’ve been looking for. The positions are in Natick, Massachusetts, which is not a bad part of the world to live, if a little expensive, and I’m sure Cognex is a good company to work for, so what’s holding you back?

On a broader note, the very fact that “Big Yella” are recruiting tech experts has to show that they are boosting R&D spending and expect to see good times ahead.

Machine vision job in Southern California

An unnamed manufacturer in the growing solar sector is looking for a vision guy or gal with LabVIEW or VisionPro experience. Details are on Dice.

They’re looking for someone to manage projects in areas such as high speed pick and place automation, robotics, assembly quality, manufacturing defects, and incoming material and final assembly inspection. Seems like this goes beyond just developing vision solutions and is more of a project management role. Why, I might even put in an application myself!

Job for a Machine Vision Software Engineer

I just spotted an interesting opportunity on the Dice web site. It’s for an engineer to lead an algorithm development team in coming up with solutions to inspection and guidance problems. The job needs strong Visual C++ skills along with expertise in Cognex CVL and VisionPro.

The job is being advertised by a recruitment agency, so we don’t know who it’s for, but perhaps
the fact that the agency is Minnesota-based is a clue.

Hmm, what vision companies are out in that part of the world? PPT? SICK? Or could it be an integrator?

Job for a computer vision specialist

If living in Chicago and making a salary of $80 - $120k appeals, check out this job on Dice for an “Image Processing – Computer Vision – Software Engineer – 2D/3D.”

It looks as though they are particularly interested in someone familiar with handling point clouds, which means some 3D scanning experience might be useful. The successful candidate will also be a bit of a whizz with C/C++ and Java.

Could be fun!

Machine vision jobs!

If you’re an EU national with a taste for Guinness, then check out this Dublin-based recruiter.
They have a number of jobs for machine vision professionals. They’re looking for people with some serious in-depth expertise, so I would anticipate that the salaries are equally serious. If however, you’re a smart camera-only kind of vision specialist, they might not be your kind of position.

As with all recruiters, even if the particular positions I’m looking at have gone there’s always a chance there will be more coming along soon, so click the link and email them your resume. (Don’t forget to tell them how you heard of the job!)

Two great machine vision jobs

Here are a couple of terrific opportunities, both on the East Coast:

Machine Vision Software Engineer

Machine Vision Bio-Imaging Research Scientist

The first one looks to be a fairly standard kind of vision job, working for a machine builder and using Halcon. The second is rather unusual; they are seeking someone with bio-medical experience and pattern recognition algorithm expertise. Judging by the salary on offer - $120,000 up to $175,000 - they’re looking for a pretty special individual. What an opportunity though!

Where to find machine vision jobs

If you’re not familiar with LinkedIn, well wise up. This networking site for professionals has a couple of special interest groups for those of us who work in machine vision. Sure, there are some uninteresting product announcements, and the discussion board features a certain amount of blatant self-promotion, but there are also jobs!

For a recent example, there’s a job for a Product Manager at Pleora Technologies. (Pleora are the folks in Ottawa, Ontario who helped develop the GigE interface.) I don’t know if you’ll be able to read the job posting on LinkedIn without being registered, which is why I’ve linked directed to Pleora, but that’s all the more reason to sign up.

Cool job in Robotics and Machine Vision

As seen on Dice: Electrical Engineer – Robotics Machine Vision . This is not your run-of-the-mill vision job but an opportunity to work on autonomous ground vehicles. Sounds like advanced military stuff – could be a lot of fun.

Machine Vision Job Opportunity

Here’s a great opportunity for a Cognex specialist based in the New England region. Although it’s not, at the time of writing, posted on their web site, I hear that “Machine Vision Consulting,” (MVC) seek “an engineer specializing in machine vision” to join their team.

I’ve not done business with MVC myself, but they’ve always struck me as a most professional bunch. Their area of expertise seems to be what one might call “higher end” systems, meaning that they do difficult applications that need PC-based rather than smart camera solutions.

They also developed a system for “unwrapping” the outer surface of cylindrical objects, like cans of beans, that goes by the name of “Circumspect” ®. It’s a clever product and it should give you an overview of the type of projects they live and breathe.

So if you can do more than smart camera applications, and you’re thinking of making a move, check out MVC. As I say, I didn’t see a job on their web site, but I have it on good authority that they would welcome resumes from qualified candidates.

Put your 3D vision skills to work!

There are a lot of robotics hobbyists who “see” 3D vision as the way to give their creations autonomous mobility. The DARPA Challenge had a similar goal, but to date this kind of technology has been more the preserve of research organizations than pure for-profit businesses.

Well this job description, for a “3D Imaging C++ Programmer,” (another Dice posting,) suggests there are entrepreneurs who see real opportunities out there, in this case for autonomous boats.

So if you like to dabble in the mysterious and complicated world of 3D, this might just be a way to make money – probably very good money - doing what you enjoy.

A job for an image processing guru

Just seen on Dice – an opportunity for a very smart image processing guru to join a Massachusetts start-up company.

Looks like a great opportunity for someone willing to take a few risks in life.