FPGA Machine Learning Developer

FPGA Machine Learning Developer

CERN - European Organization for Nuclear Research

Geneva, Switzerland

Your responsibilities

We are seeking a FPGA & Machine Learning Developer to join the Edge SpAIce project, an EU-funded initiative leveraging CERN technology for onboard image processing with Machine Learning (ML) on FPGAs. The project aims to monitor plastic pollution in the ocean using Earth Observation (EO) satellites equipped with hyperspectral cameras. By performing real-time image segmentation onboard, the system will identify marine debris and send rapid alerts, reducing the need for extensive data transmission.

CERN's hls4ml tool, originally developed for ultra-low latency Neural Network (NN) inference in LHC experiments, will be a key part of the project. The successful candidate will develop and optimize NN inference for NanoXPlore FPGAs, which are well-suited for low-power, high-throughput embedded processing.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and optimize Neural Network (NN) inference implementations for NanoXPlore FPGAs;
• Implement image segmentation NNs for real-time onboard identification of marine debris;
• Benchmark and evaluate FPGA demonstrator systems, measuring latency, power efficiency, and accuracy;
• Collaborate with international partners specializing in satellite technology, EO applications, and NN deployment on space hardware;
• Present research findings at CERN and international conferences/workshops.

Your profile

Skills:

• Experience with FPGA development, including High-Level Synthesis (HLS), Hardware Description Languages (HDLs) such as Verilog or VHDL, and C++;
• Familiarity with hls4ml, NanoXPlore FPGAs, and Quantization Aware Training is a plus;
• Understanding of Neural Networks for image processing, particularly image segmentation;
• Knowledge of Earth Observation applications and hyperspectral imaging;
• Strong teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to present and document technical work effectively.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State;
• By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in EE/CS (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is either a Bachelor's or Master's degree;
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before;
• Applicants without University degree are not eligible;
• Applicants with a PhD are not eligible.

Apply Now