Principal Computer Vision / Machine Learning Engineer in Bristol

Join Our Team at Hawk-Eye Innovations

Location: Hybrid working – minimum 2 days per week in the office (London, Basingstoke and Bristol)

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

Salary: £76,340 – £109,060 per annum

We're looking for an exceptional Principal Computer Vision / Machine Learning Engineer to join our Innovation Hub and help shape the next generation of sports tracking technology. Working at the intersection of computer vision, applied mathematics and machine learning, you'll tackle some of the most technically challenging problems in sports technology. From reconstructing accurate 3D trajectories from multi-camera systems to deploying advanced algorithms onto embedded hardware, you'll play a key role in developing solutions that power world-leading tracking technology used across global sport.

If you enjoy solving complex engineering challenges, influencing technical direction and building production-ready computer vision systems, we'd love to hear from you.

What Your Day Will Look Like

As a Principal Computer Vision / Machine Learning Engineer, you'll play a key role in developing the next generation of computer vision technology within our Innovation Hub. Working at the intersection of computer vision and applied mathematics, you'll transform raw 2D detections from camera systems into accurate 3D positional and trajectory data, ensuring outputs are physically plausible, robust and production-ready. You'll collaborate with software engineers, machine learning specialists and product teams to solve complex technical challenges, helping bring advanced tracking technology into a wider range of sporting environments.

• Applied Computer Vision: Design and develop algorithms that reconstruct accurate 3D positional and trajectory data from 2D detections, applying mathematical and physical modelling of motion, projectiles and object interaction.
• Computer Vision Systems: Design and build computer vision components supporting detection, tracking and calibration workflows across multiple sports.
• Calibration & Validation: Contribute to calibration systems, handling coverage gaps and validating reconstructed trajectories against real-world scenarios.
• Embedded Deployment: Support the optimisation and deployment of algorithms onto embedded NVIDIA Jetson hardware, helping deliver efficient real-time performance on edge devices.
• Machine Learning Collaboration: Work alongside our dedicated Machine Learning discipline, leveraging existing detection models where appropriate while owning the Computer Vision and applied modelling layer built on top of them.
• Technical Leadership: Influence algorithm design, technical architecture and data pipeline decisions within a fast-moving product team while providing technical guidance across complex engineering challenges.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with data platform, backend and frontend engineers to define data requirements, representative datasets and reliable production outputs.
• Quality & Reliability: Help ensure tracking outputs remain accurate and reliable across challenging real-world environments where conditions can vary significantly.

What We Value

At Hawk-Eye, we thrive on solving difficult engineering problems through innovation, collaboration and technical excellence. As a Principal Engineer, you'll remain hands-on while influencing the technical direction of our products. You'll work alongside highly skilled engineers across Computer Vision, Machine Learning and Software Engineering to develop innovative solutions that continue to push the boundaries of sports technology. We're looking for someone who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, embraces ambiguity and wants to make a lasting impact through technical leadership and engineering excellence.

Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise

We're looking for someone with:

• Extensive commercial experience in Computer Vision with a strong grounding in applied mathematics and physical modelling.
• Expertise in trajectory estimation, motion reconstruction, projectile physics or similar 2D-to-3D reconstruction problems.
• Experience designing Computer Vision algorithms for detection, tracking, calibration or reconstruction systems.
• Experience working with camera-based data sources, tracking pipelines or spatial and temporal datasets.
• Strong C++ development experience.
• Python experience for prototyping, experimentation or tooling would be advantageous.
• Experience deploying or optimising algorithms for embedded or edge GPU hardware, particularly NVIDIA Jetson, is highly desirable.
• Working knowledge of Machine Learning techniques is beneficial; however, this role is primarily Computer Vision and applied modelling focused rather than Machine Learning research focused.
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and evolving requirements within a fast-paced, product-focused engineering environment.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across Computer Vision, Machine Learning, backend, frontend and data platform teams.
• Experience influencing technical direction and contributing to architecture decisions.

What This Role Is Not

To help set expectations, it's important to understand what this role focuses on:

• This is not a pure Machine Learning research role. The emphasis is on applied Computer Vision, mathematical modelling and delivering production-ready solutions rather than researching or training novel Machine Learning models.
• This is not a Data Engineering role. You'll be responsible for producing high-quality model outputs, while separate teams own data storage, transformation, APIs and wider platform services.
• This is not a people management role by default. As a Principal Engineer, you'll provide technical leadership, influence engineering decisions and mentor through technical expertise. Depending on the team structure, there may be opportunities to lead a squad or technical discipline, but direct line management is not a core responsibility.

Reward, Benefits, and Wellness

We offer a comprehensive package to support your growth and well-being.

• United Kingdom: Annual Leave: 25 days (excluding bank holidays). Enhanced Pension Scheme: 5% matching. Flexible Working: Hybrid model (minimum 2 days in the office per week). Wellness: Complimentary Unmind app and onsite gym (Basingstoke). Exclusive Perks: Access to sporting events and tickets, plus Sony Group Company discounts.
• Hungary: Annual Leave: Standard according to local labour law. Flexible Working: Hybrid model (2 days in our office per week). Exclusive Perks: Access to sporting events and tickets, plus Sony Group Company discounts. Additional Benefits: Cafeteria options (SZÉP Card, Nursery & Kindergarten contributions, Annual MOL Bubi Pass), private medical insurance, life & accident insurance, MindentMent Dental Clinic discounts, seniority awards, and an Employee Assistance Program.

About Us

Hawk-Eye Innovations, part of Sony Sports Technology, is a world leader in sports technology. We deliver sophisticated officiating, broadcast and player tracking solutions across more than 25 international sports. Every year, our technology supports over 30,000 sporting events across more than 500 stadiums in 90 countries. Our Innovation Hub focuses on solving the next generation of technical challenges, developing cutting‑edge Computer Vision and Machine Learning solutions that continue to redefine what's possible in sports technology.

Equal Opportunity Statement

As an active part of a culturally and socially diverse society, Sony Sports Technology is committed to building a workforce that is diverse, inclusive and representative of the communities we serve. Sony Sports Technology is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We recruit, retain, develop and promote people based on their skills, qualifications and experience. Our commitment is to provide a respectful, inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to contribute, grow and succeed.

Apply Today

Join Hawk-Eye Innovations and help shape the future of sports technology. As a Principal Computer Vision / Machine Learning Engineer, you'll work on some of the most technically challenging problems in Computer Vision, applied mathematics and real‑time tracking, helping build the next generation of world‑leading sports technology.