Principal Engineer - Machine Learning
Core
Primary owner of ML systems detecting product development defects, modeling material behavior with limited data, and selecting high-value experiments for product development.
Role type
Principal Engineer - Machine Learning (Product Development)
Builds
Automated inspection and measurement models, real-time anomaly detection systems, surrogate model pipelines, and active learning systems.
Domain
Manufacturing / Industrial AI / Computer Vision (via careerplan.io/jobs/744000153657699-principal-engineer-machine-learning-at-western-digital)
Deliverable
production ML models
Required skills
Python, PyTorch, Computer Vision (CNNs, U-Net, ViT), Surrogate Modeling, Active Learning, Data-to-Model Interface, Practical MLOps, Model Evaluation & Uncertainty Analysis
Preferred skills
PINNs, Bayesian methods, Reinforcement learning basics, AWS fundamentals, RAG pipelines
Technologies
PyTorch, MLflow, Docker, Git, CNN, U-Net, ViT
Responsibilities
Build and maintain CNN/U-Net/ViT models for automated inspection; implement real-time anomaly detection for sensor data; own surrogate model pipelines and active learning systems; define data contracts and validate datasets; maintain model versions and training pipelines; mentor junior engineers and document model designs.
Seniority
Principal, hands-on IC with strategic ownership