Research Engineer

Are you an ambitious researcher looking to change the world? How would you like to play a vital role in understanding how insect brains function? And then applying that knowledge to revolutionise how we build robots?

At Opteran we are pioneering a new approach to building truly intelligent robots - by reverse engineering the brains of insects that solve all the problems we need in autonomy using a brain the size of a pinhead. We call it ‘natural intelligence’.

The specific role aims to understand what features of insect eyes and processing algorithms underlie their amazing visual behaviour and can inspire the next generation of intelligent machines. In your first 6 months, you will create state-of-the-art infrastructure facilitating this new research pathway, before diving into the computational modelling of key circuits of the insect brain. You will work closely with Opteran’s commercial and R&D teams to ensure that research addresses commercial needs, and delivers impact to customers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Developing computational models of sensory and processing systems in software
• Applying data analysis techniques to reveal fundamental principles
• Work with Opteran’s R&D team to verify outcomes of real robots
• Reporting outcomes of research across the business, and externally when required
• Creating scientific, technical, IP reports that summarise key outputs from your research
• Defining and building R&D project and processes inspired by high-level commercial requirements
• Assisting in the day-to-day functioning of the research function including supervision of junior staff
• A minimum of 3 years research experience with evidence of innovation and impact

The Company

After 8 years of research, Opteran has pioneered brain biomimicry - the ability to understand real brains and re-engineer them. Starting with how insect brains see, avoid collisions, navigate and make decisions, reproducing these biological systems so efficiently they run on low-end silicon to enable machines to behave more naturally. Providing an alternative to current photogrammetry and DL approaches, this has broken through today's limitations; not only is it small, lightweight and ultra-low powered, it is orders of magnitude more robust and is also verifiable, is edge only and does not require data. We call it ‘natural intelligence’.

**The Person:

• Good understanding of building computational models of sensory and/or processing systems
• Familiarity with neuroscience and/ or computational neuroscience
• You will be part of Opteran’s Research Team, working on the 4-year (extendable to 7-years) UKRI-backed Brains Beats Brawn project offering unrivalled time to achieve something truly game changing.
• You will regularly present the outcomes of your work to other company functions, at external research and industry conferences, and at science outreach events.
• The role is heavily experimental and is expected to involve development of new software models, analysis of outcomes, and incorporation of new and emerging neuroscientific data requiring ongoing engagement with the research community.
• You will be expected to contribute to the research direction as new findings and commercial opportunities arise.

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday per year (plus 8 UK public holidays)
• Eligible for our employee equity scheme
• Flexible working hours; holiday swaps
• Team socials
• Salary sacrifice and 5% employee contribution to the company pension scheme
• Progressive leave policies
• Cycle to work scheme

If you are keen on joining this exciting, forward-thinking company and taking the next step in your career, then please click the apply now button to find out more.

Research shows that women and minority groups are particularly likely to second-guess themselves and not apply — so if you're worried about meeting all of the criteria, get in touch anyhow and let us do the worrying.