Data Acquisition Engineer

Context

Karavela is a neuroscience research company established in 2025 and currently based in Paris, France. We build a foundation model of the human brain relying on next-generation magnetic resonance imaging. To do so, Karavela is collecting a very large MRI dataset from healthy volunteers listening to naturalistic stimuli such as audiobooks, podcasts and radio programmes. This dataset is then used to train deep learning models that can reconstruct the stimuli from recorded brain activity. The goal is to leverage the representations learnt by these models in downstream applications, in particular by providing biomarkers for neurological and psychiatric diseases in clinical trials. Karavela is currently organised into 3 teams focusing on data acquisition, model development and clinical applications.

Position summary

Karavela is scaling the acquisition of a large MRI dataset across multiple scanners and imaging centres in France and abroad. We are looking for a Research Scientist/Engineer to own the processing and technical quality of the MRI data collected by Karavela, from raw acquisitions to quality-controlled datasets ready for downstream use. You will build and maintain MRI processing and QA/QC pipelines, monitor incoming acquisitions across our imaging centres, investigate data-quality issues, and work with acquisition teams to continuously improve data collection. As new MRI sequences and protocols are introduced, you will work closely with our MRI physicist, CRAs running the experiments and model development team to adapt processing, QA/QC pipelines and validate their deployment across acquisition sites.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

• a degree in MRI physics, medical imaging, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, signal processing, computer science or a related field;

• hands-on experience working with MRI or fMRI data with a good understanding of MRI acquisition and data quality;

• experience developing scientific data-processing, signal-processing or QA/QC pipelines;

• experience with automation (e.g. kubernetes, docker, dagster) is a strong plus;

• strong programming skills, particularly in Python;

• excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work in a collaborative environment;

Benefits

This position offers:

• open-ended contract (CDI) ;

• competitive compensation, depending on experience ;

• equity options ;

• 25 days of paid time off per year ;

• full-time position in Paris, partial remote work is possible