Senior Audio DSP Algorithms Engineer

About Zipline

Do you want to change the world? Zipline is on a mission to transform the way goods move. Our aim is to solve the world’s most urgent and complex access challenges by building, manufacturing and operating the first instant delivery and logistics system that serves all humans equally, wherever they are. From powering Rwanda’s national blood delivery network and Ghana’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution, to providing on-demand home delivery for Walmart, to enabling healthcare providers to bring care directly to U.S. homes, we are transforming the way things move for businesses, governments and consumers. The technology is complex but the idea is simple: a teleportation service that delivers what you need, when you need it. Through our technology that includes robotics and autonomy, we are decarbonizing delivery, decreasing road congestion, and reducing fossil fuel consumption and air pollution, while providing equitable access to billions of people and building a more resilient global supply chain.   Join Zipline and help us to make good on our promise to build an equitable and more resilient global supply chain for billions of people.

About You and The Role  

As an Audio DSP Algorithms Engineer, your core responsibility will be to design and implement an advanced perception system that empowers our aircraft to accurately detect and track other aircraft using acoustic signals. This pivotal role will involve the invention and execution of innovative acoustic localization algorithms and noise reduction strategies to enhance detection range. Furthermore, you will develop machine learning algorithms optimized for resource-constrained embedded hardware.

In tandem with the hardware team, you'll play a significant part in the development and rigorous testing of cutting-edge acoustic hardware, facilitating our aircraft's faultless operation over thousands of flight hours.

Your role goes beyond mere algorithm creation; it entails a holistic problem-solving approach. You will be entrusted with every facet of the system, from initial conception of algorithms to comprehensive validation of the system's performance. Your relentless dedication to problem-solving will drive our aircraft to safely navigate the skies, ensuring the timely delivery of life-saving supplies with unprecedented accuracy and reliability.

What You'll Do  

• Design and implement state-of-the-art acoustic algorithms. Drive the creation of pioneering acoustic localization and noise reduction strategies, capable of maintaining performance in a variety of adverse hardware and environmental conditions.
• Assist in creating a rapid data-driven experiment, validation, deployment loop to facilitate swift algorithm development
• Design robust algorithms and software 
• Uphold a relentlessly high bar for quality across a team that navigates a diverse domain of software, ranging from acoustic signal processing to tracking and avoidance.

What You'll Bring 

• You bring extensive experience in the design, implementation, and testing of advanced acoustic signal processing algorithms, particularly in active noise cancellation, acoustic beamforming, and localization.
• You possess deep expertise in crafting and optimizing DSP algorithms, with a specific focus on real-time embedded systems.
• You're proficient in Python, C or C++, and familiar with Rust. Your experience extends to every aspect of algorithm development, from initial creation and rigorous testing to efficient deployment.
• You have a comprehensive understanding of your technology stack, from the application layer down to the underlying hardware.
• You demonstrate a profound understanding of digital filtering techniques. Your skills encompass the design and implementation of various filter types, including FIR, IIR, and adaptive filters, tailored for acoustic signal processing applications.
• Ideally, you have experience in developing and deploying machine learning models to real-time embedded applications.
• You have a proven track record in designing and implementing real-time, safety-critical systems, with a distinctive emphasis on audio signal processing.
• You bear the battle scars of fighting for deterministic behavior in your software... but firmly believe that the battles are worth fighting.
• You have internalized best practices from working on a shared codebase, including continuous integration and thorough code review.
• You understand what influences the speed of code execution and how to leverage multi-core or GPU hardware for consistent high performance.

What Else You Need to Know   

The starting cash range for this role is $180,000 - $225,000. Please note that this is a target, starting cash range for a candidate who meets the minimum qualifications for this ro