--- title: 'AI & Machine Learning Engineer at Lightspeed' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/ai-machine-learning-engineer-lightspeed-northbrook-1y6qs3f9075m' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-03' --- # AI & Machine Learning Engineer at Lightspeed - **Company:** Lightspeed - **Location:** Northbrook, IL - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-06-23 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-03 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/lightspeed/0b8bb2c8-8049-4b53-b1d1-74397807ccf2 ## Job description ## ABOUT LIGHTSPEED LightSpeed Build Technologies is revolutionizing the construction industry through AI-powered robotics. Our flagship systems—BRUTE for automated wall panel manufacturing and DEX for on-site collaborative construction—are addressing the global housing crisis by delivering unprecedented speed, precision, and affordability in homebuilding. ## POSITION OVERVIEW As an AI & Machine Learning Engineer, you will design, build, and deploy the intelligent systems that make LightSpeed’s construction robots smarter, faster, and more autonomous. You will develop machine learning models for computer vision, predictive analytics, autonomous decision-making, and process optimization—all deployed in real-time production environments where precision and reliability are critical. This role sits at the intersection of cutting-edge AI research and practical industrial application. ## WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON: Machine Learning Development - Design, train, and deploy ML models for robotic control, quality prediction, and process optimization - Develop reinforcement learning and imitation learning systems for robot task planning - Build predictive maintenance models using sensor data to anticipate equipment failures - Implement anomaly detection for real-time quality monitoring during automated assembly - Optimize model inference for edge deployment on GPU-accelerated hardware in production Computer Vision & Perception - Develop deep learning pipelines for object detection, segmentation, and pose estimation - Build real-time vision systems for robotic guidance, workpiece tracking, and dimensional verification - Implement 3D point cloud processing for construction material recognition - Design and train models for visual quality inspection using depth cameras and industrial imaging Data Infrastructure & MLOps - Build ML data pipelines from sensor acquisition through model training and deployment - Establish data labeling, versioning, and management workflows for training datasets - Implement model monitoring, A/B testing, and continuous improvement in production - Design experiment tracking and reproducibility infrastructure (MLflow, Weights & Biases) Integration & Deployment - Integrate ML models with ROS2-based robot control for real-time inference - Optimize models for NVIDIA Jetson, industrial PCs, and edge computing platforms - Collaborate with robotics engineers on sensor selection, placement, and calibration - Support scaling ML systems across multiple production cells and sites ## REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: AI/ML Expertise - 4+ years hands-on ML engineering building and deploying production models - Deep proficiency with PyTorch or TensorFlow for model development and training - Strong computer vision experience: object detection, segmentation, depth estimation, or 3D vision - Understanding of reinforcement learning, imitation learning, or robot learning approaches - Experience optimizing ML models for edge deployment (TensorRT, ONNX, quantization) Software Engineering - Strong Python with experience in C++ for performance-critical components - Experience with ML infrastructure: data pipelines, experiment tracking, model serving - Proficiency with Linux, Docker, Git, and CI/CD workflows - Understanding of real-time system constraints for ML inference in production ## PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: - MS or PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Robotics, or related field - Experience with robotics simulation: MuJoCo, IsaacSIM, or similar - Background in manufacturing, industrial automation, or construction technology - Experience with ROS/ROS2 integration for ML-powered robotics - Published research or patents in computer vision, robot learning, or related ML - Experience with NVIDIA ecosystem: CUDA, cuDNN, TensorRT, Jetson platforms ## WHY JOIN LIGHTSPEED: - Build AI systems that directly control physical robots addressing the housing crisis - Work on rare real-world ML challenges: real-time inference, embodied AI, industrial perception - Access to rich proprietary datasets from production robot cells - Hands-on culture with direct access to robots, sensors, and manufacturing environments - Competitive compensation including salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits ## EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP This position is at-will, meaning either you or the Company may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice. ## EQUAL OPPORTUNITY LightSpeed Build Technologies is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences. ## About Lightspeed ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Lightspeed uses robotics and AI to manufacture precision-engineered panels and components for residential construction, aiming to build homes faster, smarter, and more affordably. - **Entity Type**: Private (Startup) - **Headquarters**: Northbrook, Illinois, United States - **Founded**: Not publicly available (likely 2023-2024 based on current operations) - **Founders**: Biju Kulathakal (serial entrepreneur behind Redbox and Halo Investing) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Construction Technology (Contech), Robotics, AI-Powered Manufacturing - **Target customers**: Homebuilders, real estate developers, construction firms (B2B) - **Mission or purpose statement**: "Housing for All" — building homes smarter, faster, and more affordable with robotics and AI. ## Products & Services - **BRUTE Robotic System**: A robotic system designed for heavy-duty construction tasks, targeting a 50% reduction in build time versus traditional methods. - **DEX Robotic System**: A precision robotic system for detailed assembly and finishing work. - **AI-Powered Design & Engineering**: Proprietary AI algorithms that analyze architectural drawings to automatically generate optimized construction sequences, material lists, and robotic instructions. - **Precision-Engineered Panels**: Prefabricated wall and floor panels manufactured to tight tolerances, enabling faster on-site assembly and reduced errors. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed - **Key Metric**: Not publicly available (likely pre-revenue or early-stage; funding status unknown) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Founder Biju Kulathakal previously founded Redbox and Halo Investing, suggesting strong investor connections, but no specific investors are named for Lightspeed. - **Growth Signals**: The company is actively hiring (careers page on Ashby), signaling growth. They claim to target 70% reduction in construction errors, 20-30% labor cost savings, and 25% reduction in material waste. ## Competitive Advantages - **Robotic Precision**: Claims tolerances "impossible with manual framing" — a significant differentiator in an industry where quality varies widely. - **Founder Credibility**: Biju Kulathakal has a proven track record building Redbox (a massive kiosk network) and Halo Investing (a fintech platform), suggesting ability to scale. - **Integrated AI-to-Robotics Pipeline**: Full vertical integration from architectural drawing analysis to robotic manufacturing, reducing human error and rework. - **Sustainability Angle**: Precision manufacturing reduces construction waste by ~25%, aligning with ESG trends in real estate. ## Strategic Focus - **Offsite Construction**: The company is riding the McKinsey-predicted trend that 20% of homes will be built offsite in the US by 2030. - **Speed & Labor Reduction**: Core value prop is cutting build time in half and reducing labor dependency — critical as construction labor shortages worsen. - **Scaling Manufacturing**: Likely focused on expanding production capacity at their Northbrook facility and proving the technology with initial clients. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-Driven**: "Housing for All" offers a tangible social impact — helping solve the housing affordability crisis through technology. - **Founder Led**: Working directly with a serial entrepreneur who has scaled companies to national prominence. - **Cutting-Edge Tech**: Hands-on work with robotics, computer vision, AI, and advanced manufacturing — appealing for engineers and operators. - **Early-Stage Impact**: As a likely early-stage company, employees can wear multiple hats and shape the product and culture from the ground up. - **Location**: Northbrook, IL (northern suburb of Chicago) offers a suburban office environment with access to Chicago's talent pool. - **Work Policy**: Not explicitly stated, but the nature of robotics manufacturing suggests a strong on-site presence for hardware roles. **Note**: There is a separate, publicly traded company called Lightspeed Commerce (NYSE: LSPD, TSX: LSPD) that provides POS and e-commerce software. This profile is for Lightspeed (lightspeed.build), the robotics construction startup. Do not confuse the two. ## Sources 1. [lightspeed.build](https://lightspeed.build/) 2. [lightspeed.build/about-us](https://lightspeed.build/about-us) 3. [lightspeed.build/contact-us](https://lightspeed.build/contact-us) 4. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/lightspeed](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/lightspeed) ## Other roles at Lightspeed - [VP Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/vp-engineering-lightspeed-northbrook-asdjbkqf4h5g) — Northbrook, IL - [Robotics Integration/Controls Engineer (Full-Stack Capable)](https://feeny.ai/job/robotics-integration-controls-engineer-full-stack-capable-lightspeed-northbrook-9pkdhtn08thn) — Northbrook, IL - [Senior Robotics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-robotics-engineer-lightspeed-northbrook-4zwg9dftn47c) — Northbrook, IL