Senior Computer Vision / Machine Vision Engineer – Sports Timing & Performance Tracking (OpenCV)

Senior Computer Vision / Machine Vision Engineer – Athlete Timing & Performance Tracking (OpenCV) Project Overview We are an established international athletic development company looking for an experienced Computer Vision / Machine Vision Engineer to help develop a proprietary camera-based athlete testing and performance analysis system. Our objective is to develop reliable technology that uses video footage to accurately measure athletic performance without relying on traditional electronic timing gates or wireless sensors. We're looking for an engineer with strong experience in OpenCV, video processing, object tracking, camera calibration, and accurate physical measurements using cameras. Phase 1 – Camera-Based Athlete Testing Our initial objective is to develop a proof of concept using a single stationary camera to automatically time an athlete completing a standardized movement course. The testing environment will be relatively controlled: One athlete completing a standardized movement course. A consistent course configuration with fixed reference points. Clearly defined starting and finishing positions. Automatic detection of start and finish events. Accurate and repeatable elapsed-time measurements. Ideally, the ability to measure intermediate split times. Results that can eventually integrate with our existing web-based testing platform. We want to explore whether this can be accomplished using existing computer vision technology without requiring extensive custom AI model training. Timing accuracy, reliability, and consistency are critical. The system must eventually support standardized testing across multiple training facilities and locations. We are particularly interested in understanding camera requirements, positioning, calibration, frame rates, and how measurement accuracy can be validated. Phase 2 – Long-Term Vision Our larger objective is to expand this technology into a comprehensive athlete performance analysis platform. Eventually, we'd like cameras to analyze entire training sessions and provide measurable performance data, including: Speed and acceleration. Movement and transition times. Changes in speed throughout training. Movement patterns and trajectories. Performance comparisons over time. We're particularly interested in developing technology that can operate using affordable camera equipment, potentially including smartphones or tablets, to support deployment across hundreds of training locations internationally. Technical Experience We're Looking For Strong experience with OpenCV and C++ and/or Python. Computer vision and machine vision development. Video-based object detection and tracking. Camera calibration and physical measurement. Accurate timestamping and event detection. Experience with real-time video processing. Experience developing production-ready software. Experience with sports analytics, industrial machine vision, optical measurement, high-speed video, or motion analysis would be particularly valuable. Existing Development Team We already have a development team responsible for our website, athlete database, user accounts, and testing platform. We're specifically looking for an engineer to develop the computer vision technology and measurement capabilities, which would integrate with our existing web-based platform. Initial Engagement We would like to begin with a small, paid feasibility assessment and proof of concept. The initial objective is to demonstrate that a stationary camera can accurately and consistently measure an athlete's time through a standardized movement course. We expect the engineer to recommend an appropriate technical approach, identify potential accuracy limitations, and propose a method for validating measurements against a reliable reference timing system. If successful, there is significant potential for ongoing development as we expand the platform. When Applying Please provide examples of computer vision systems you've personally developed, particularly projects involving: Video-based timing or speed measurement. Sports performance analysis. Object tracking and line-crossing detection. Camera calibration and real-world measurement. We're particularly interested in seeing working demonstrations and understanding how you validated measurement accuracy. We are looking for an experienced engineer who can help us build a reliable commercial product, not simply an AI demonstration.