Company Description

Smart Surgical Appliances (SSA) is a startup, UK limited Surgical Device Company and is the sole owner of novel platform technologies designed to reduce costs, improve safety and outcomes and minimise risk in the exceedingly large but complex minimally invasive surgery markets. The Company is developing a new visualisation platform for laparoscopic surgery. The vision of the Company is to be the market leader in the research, engineering, design, development, and marketing of advanced visualisation devices, which improve the standardisation, safety, and surgical outcomes of minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Role Description

The Computer Scientist will be responsible for researching, developing, and implementing real-time image processing algorithms that run on the company’s laparoscopic visualisation platform. The key responsibilities of this role will include:

• Develop and optimise existing image processing algorithms, both in terms of user-perceived visual performance and execution speed.
• Demonstrate creativity in proposing, researching and developing innovative new algorithms that may have relevance to the platform.
• Delivering high-quality code, according to specifications.
• Experience with OpenCV, TensorFlow, and other computer vision libraries
• Knowledge of machine learning algorithms and neural networks
• Delivering high-quality design documentation according to medical software standards
• Proficiency in computer vision, image processing, and deep learning techniques
• Performing tests, code reviews, and other quality assurance tasks.
• Fast prototyping in support of proof-of-principle activities.
• Contributing to role-specific R&D planning.
• Working with management on managing and developing intellectual property.
• Working with corporate partners, as determined by the executive management.

Qualifications

Essential Requirements

• Hold a masters degree, or – preferably – PhD in a relevant subject such as computer science.
• Demonstratable experience of developing – at a low level – novel image processing algorithms.
• Experience developing parallelisable implementations of algorithms, suitable for real-time execution at video rates.
• Comfortable coding in C / C++.

Desirable Skills & Abilities

• Experience writing CUDA kernel code.
• Experience of optimising algorithms for speed; both design and implementation.
• Understanding of camera calibration and 3D reconstruction.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, particularly when communicating technical information to a non-technical audience.
• Ability to self-motivate and excellent self-discipline when working independently; prioritise tasks and work effectively to manage and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to provide constructive input into R&D strategy & planning meetings.
• Ability to learn new skills quickly and work with minimum supervision.
• Excellent report writing skills, and experience of MS Office.
• Excellent project management and time planning demonstrable skills
• A basic knowledge of clinical and/or biomedical engineering.
• Fluent in English