Principal Investigator - Embedded Systems Engineers (eye Tracking)

Principal Investigator - Embedded Systems Engineers (Eye Tracking)

If you've worn a pair of glasses, we've already met. We are a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, frames, and sunglasses. We offer our industry stakeholders in over 150 countries access to a global platform of high-quality vision care products (such as the Essilor brand, with Varilux, Crizal, Eyezen, Stellest and Transitions), iconic brands that consumers love (such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, Oliver Peoples, Vogue Eyewear and Costa), as well as a network that offers consumers high-quality vision care and best-in-class shopping experiences (such as Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, Salmoiraghi & Viganò and the GrandVision network), and leading e-commerce platforms.

Join our global community of over 190,000 dedicated employees around the world in driving the transformation of the eyewear and eyecare industry. Are you willing to pioneer new frontiers, foster inclusivity and collaboration, embrace agility, ignite passion, and make a positive impact on the world? Join us in redefining the boundaries of what's possible.

The Smart Eyewear LAB, a pioneering project in the heart of Milan, EssilorLuxottica and Politecnico di Milano have created the first ever joint research center aimed at designing the smart glasses of the future (EssilorLuxottica Smart Eyewear Lab), capable not only of correcting vision defects and providing an object of style and protection for eye health, but also of offering new AR (augmented reality) experiences. A first example of smart glasses made by Luxottica are the Ray-Ban Meta and Nuance Audio. The overall project aims to develop smart glasses with the integration of new hardware (electronics, sensors, processors, interconnectivity) and new algorithm and software (advanced signal processing, data processing, artificial intelligence, machine learning) to add new functionalities on glasses.

In this context, we are looking for a highly motivated Principal Investigator for the development of innovative embedded algorithms to be applied on future smart glasses. You will work closely with the research world (especially with Politecnico of Milan), in an international context, deal with new challenges to develop innovative eye tracking solutions and algorithms using advanced techniques applied on real data. The research activities will focus on challenges related to embedded machine learning, embedded signal processing, smart sensors, low-power sensors, non-conventional camera (i.e. event-based camera), and POC realization. This will require deep knowledge of relevant machine learning techniques, signal processing algorithms as well as the design and deployment of embedded processors. The candidate will investigate also novel cameras to improve the robustness and energy efficiency of the overall smart glasses at the hardware and software levels. In summary, we are looking for a talented embedded systems and machine learning /signal processing algorithm engineer to join our interdisciplinary team based at the EssilorLuxottica Smart Eyewear Lab.

The ideal candidate is a data scientist / electronic engineer / embedded engineer with research and development skills, interested in the world of smart wearable devices, capable of developing innovative solutions independently but at the same time working in a team with heterogeneous skills, bringing his own contribution in the development of complex and highly innovative solutions. In particular, the ability to develop algorithms (signal processing and machine learning) and experience in development and testing of embedded systems are required. Knowledge of electronics and firmware development is also an essential skill.

In particular, the candidate will be included in the eye tracking research stream of the Smart Eyewear Lab.

Main Responsibilities

• Contributing to the development of the research center as an embedded system and embedded machine learning specialist, working alongside several other students/researchers and EssilorLuxottica employees.
• Design and develop novel low power machine learning /signal processing algorithms for different novel sensors and camera and implemented them in microcontrollers and/or low-power processors such as (ARM Cortex-M family, RISC-V, and secondary FPGAs, parallel processors with a power of mW)
• Development of innovative, low-power, embedded eye tracking algorithms using new data from new low-power sensors and cameras.
• Embedded system firmware development with integration of new advanced algorithms and interaction with various other sensors and functionalities to realize connected battery-powered smart glasses.
• Integrating and testing functionalities in proof-of-concept embedded systems.
• Participating in and contributing to team meetings and other interactions with key stakeholders.
• Involving and interacting with companies and other professors in the projects and center's activities.

Main Requirements

• Master's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, embedded system or equivalent. A PhD in a relevant field is preferred.
• Excellent knowledge of embedded systems, sensors, algorithms (machine learning and signal processing).
• Strong experimental background and technical skills in firmware development for embedded systems both with and without the use of Real-Time Operating Systems.
• Excellent skills with electronic engineering lab equipment and performance evaluation.
• Experience in PCB design and electronics will be beneficial.
• Experience in eye tracking algorithms will be beneficial.
• Be capable of developing systems at a hardware level, from component selections to PCB design and hardware debugging.
• Strong experience with C and Python.
• Experience with Machine Learning applications with new modules and/or using Training tools, especially for resource-constrained devices.
• Preference skills will be in the implementation of multi-processors architectures based both on Microcontrollers and FPGAs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are also required.
• Adaptable and flexible to the continuous changes associated with research demands.
• Self-motivation and independent learning and not afraid to develop and test novel ideas.

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