Lead Sonar Scientist

**Kraken Robotics | Underwater. Understood.**

**NEW CAREER OPPORTUNITY**

Build your career with Kraken Robotics. Make a difference to others. If innovation drives you, and you want a career that makes a difference to the world, helping humanity overcome the challenges in our oceans - safely, efficiently, and sustainably -** then come join us at Kraken Robotics.**

**Kraken Robotics**is currently recruiting a** Lead Sonar Scientist**to join our **Mount Pearl, Newfoundland or Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Office.**

Full-Time - Permanent | Job Reference: KRSI-2025-021

Kraken’s newly formed Sensor Research Group (SRG) is intended to develop and grow our capacity for rapid innovation and sensor technology development. The mission of the SRG is to “**surge**” ahead by embracing rapid prototyping and experimental development strategies to identify limitations early in product development cycles, before significant resources are invested in scaling or commercializing a solution. In the same vein, the SRG aims to respond quickly to existing technology challenges, defects or operational issues with key expertise from SMEs and respond with rapid prototypical solutions, which can be field-tested quickly.

The SRG is seeking to recruit a new Senior Sonar Scientist with a background in synthetic aperture sonar to support and grow the existing Sonar Systems team. Experience in AI / ML would also be an asset.

**ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Work closely with Kraken’s Research Groups to develop, maintain, and execute the strategic research roadmap aligned with the company’s vision.
- Lead hands-on research and development and prototyping for Kraken’s array of products in the areas of underwater sensor systems, sonar processing, and machine learning-driven analytics.
- Identify new opportunities for innovation and evaluate emerging technologies in the field of SAS, signal processing, and sonar data science
- Support and lead development and optimization of existing and new Synthetic Aperture Sonar beamforming and motion compensation algorithms and software. This includes beamformer optimization and improvement as well as development of new beamforming solutions such as Circular SAS, “squint” mode multiaspect SAS, and 3D volumetric sub-bottom SAS.
- Support and mentor SAS research team to develop new Sonar capabilities, including but not limited to backscatter and interferometric circular SAS processing, “squint” SAS (multi-aspect imaging from single pass),
- Participate in evaluation of other potential “value adds” to Kraken’s sonar signal processing chain and analysis workflows, such as Autofocus, multispectral processing, sub-aperture imaging, image compression, etc.
- Engage with the broader scientific community through joint research initiatives, conferences, publications, and collaborations with universities.
- Support business development by engaging in customer technical discussions and proposal development.
- Participate in regular knowledge-sharing events, workshops, and technology discussions.

**QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE**
- Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or related field with a focus on signal processing, sonar systems, or machine learning.
- Experience:

- 15+ years experience in research and development
- Track record of spearheading research teams and managing complex R&D activities
- Technical Expertise:

- Extensive experience with synthetic aperture sonar (SAS), passive/active sonar signal processing, and multistatic sonar techniques.
- Strong background in machine learning, deep learning, and computer vision applied to signal/image processing.
- Proficiency in Python, C++, MATLAB, and frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, etc. with a focus on field-deployable architecture
- Familiarity with GPU-accelerated computing and high-performance signal processing architectures.
- In depth experience with simulation tools and programming languages.
- Experience with sensor fusion, sonar processing, sensor processing and data analysis, or other relevant technologies.
- Knowledge of sonar principles, acoustic signal processing, and transducer technologies.
- Knowledge of underwater optical sensing, image processing and related technologies.