Products manufactured by Prodrive Technologies range from smart thermostats and automotive wallboxes to large compute cabinets and gradient amplifiers. To ensure high-quality production, all these products have a final, visual inspection step where each product is inspected before it is packed and shipped to customers. Inspections including presence and anomaly detection are automated using the Keras and Tensorflow deep learning libraries where the classification and autoencoders models are developed and trained in-house. To improve the factory efficiency even more, these techniques will also be applied to factory data such as cycle times and process parameters for the purpose of diagnostics and predictive analysis.
At Prodrive Technologies I work as a software architect on the manufacturing automation of the factory, particularly the AI and vision solutions that provide the intelligence. What I find a big advantage of working here is that I have a big say in defining on what I want to work on. Currently, I do not only work on the implementation of software and algorithms but also have a more leading role in making architectural design choices and reviewing the work of other engineers.
When I start my day, I typically check if there is any review work for me to do. Reviewing each other’s work is very important so we can use the lessons learned, do not invent the wheel again and it also results in having everything documented as a bonus. I get a kick out of helping colleagues with their software, calibration, qualification and vision challenges and as a result often get quite a few calls every day. I will not get bored easily!
I can also spend some time on my own work which currently involves improving camera calibration algorithms. It uses ChArUco patterns that, without going into too many technical details, result in having a better distribution of calibration points and in turn gives a more accurate camera calibration. It is quite important to get this right as all future camera setups used for inspections and localization of components depend on the accuracy of this calibration.
Finally, as an architect I am working on a roadmap to determine the future of deep learning and machine vision at Prodrive Technologies. Visual inspection processes that are currently being automated are component presence detection, cable insertion and anomaly detection for product damage. I setup requirements for a generic machine learning framework and its applications so we can leverage machine learning technologies in multiple processes. This is a big motivator for me as I can really contribute to how the company applies vision and machine learning techniques that will play a large role the fully autonomous lights-out factory.
I get a kick out of helping colleagues with their software, calibration, qualification and vision challenges
Pros and cons
Very versatile work from requirements, to implementation and qualification
You are allowed to take responsibility if you think it can be done better
Flexible working hours and environment
I get a lot of calls to help colleagues
I get a lot of calls
The Prodrive Technologies Mindset
Responsibility
You don’t just go to work, you feel responsible for your project
Flexible
You decide when, where and how much you want to work
Manufacturing
You like to think about manufacturability when designing
Initiative
You don’t sit and wait, you have a hands-on mentality
Have you got what it takes to become a Prodriver?
What we offer
- Perfect environment for people willing to take full responsibility in a project
- Unlimited growth opportunities and freedom in taking different roles in different projects
- Young and dynamic culture
- Unlimited personal budget for training courses, classes or studies
- We are open 24/7 and provide lunch, dinner and a company gym
- We keep management positions to a minimum, so there is virtually no hierarchy
- Create your future with your own personal development plan
- Tools and equipment such as an iPhone, and laptop
- The flexibility to work wherever and how much you want
- Overtime hours can be completely paid out
- Salary that grows with your performance
- Opportunity to become a shareholder and entrepreneur in the company
- Travel allowance based on the days you are actually at Prodrive
- 33 vacation days
- Retirement plan
- Distribution of profits
Application steps
- We’ll take a look at your application within 5 working days.
- You will receive a link to Prodrive Technologies’ online aptitude test to see if you’re up for the challenge.
- We will set you up for a personal interview to ask you difficult questions about yourself. Afterwards, others will ask you some more difficult questions about your expertise.
- If we want to make you an offer and there's enough time left, we will discuss employment conditions directly after the interviews.
- If you survived everything, only your signature stands between you and being a Prodriver.