Junior Machine Learning Engineer

Tactical AI Development Program ABOUT MERCER-EDWARDS, INC. Mercer-Edwards is a San Francisco–based private wealth management and venture capital firm, underpinned by deep technology expertise in AI, drone systems, and secure mobile platforms. Our technology practice serves both our investment work and select banking and defense sector clients, delivering mission-critical solutions in drone vision, real-time object determination, and edge-native computing — technology that operates independently of vulnerable infrastructure, ensuring absolute mission security, privacy, and operational superiority. THE MISSION We are identifying high-potential experienced developers and/or junior engineers for our Tactical AI Development Track. This is a rigorous 12-month residency designed to transform great coders into elite defense systems architects. Phase 1 (Months 1-12): You will be deployed on a secure commercial project (focusing on high-frequency algorithmic processing and secure logistics) to master our proprietary "standalone" architecture. You will receive mentorship in C++ optimization and Swift interface design. Phase 2 (Month 13+): Upon successful completion and security vetting, you will transition to the Defense Division to engineer autonomous drone vision systems and threat determination modules. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES • Skill Development: Rapidly gain proficiency in C++ (embedded logic) and Swift (mobile command) under the guidance of Senior Principal Engineers. • Foundational Coding: Contribute to non-classified AI modules, focusing on code efficiency, memory safety, and offline functionality. • Data and Vision: Assist in the preparation and training of computer vision datasets for object recognition and edge-case detection. • Module Testing: Run rigorous stress tests on standalone AI modules to ensure stability before they are integrated into tactical hardware. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS • Core Potential: Academic or personal project experience with C++ and/or Swift. We do not expect mastery, but we require a strong grasp of object-oriented programming and memory management — with the understanding that existing systems are there to be improved, not used. • Math Foundation: Solid understanding of linear algebra and calculus, with theoretical knowledge of Machine Learning concepts (neural networks, gradients, regression). • The Right Mindset: A maverick, detail-oriented approach to problem-solving. You must be an independent thinker and take issue with "it's always done that way" and "it can't be done" — prioritizing security and offline capability above all else, while building a solution you are proud of, even if nobody else ever sees it. • Clearance: Must be a citizen of a NATO member state and eligible to obtain high-level security clearance after the initial 12-month period.