About Machines With Vision
What is Machines With Vision?
Machines With Vision is an award-winning Edinburgh-based technology company applying computer vision, IoT, GIS, and Big Data to transform the maintenance of the world''s vital linear infrastructure — primarily rail. The mission, verbatim: "Enabling a sustainable future by transforming the maintenance of the world''s vital linear infrastructure."
Founded in 2016 by Anthony Ashbrook (CEO, PhD in robotics/vision), Tim Lukins, Jan Wessnitzer (all PhDs in robotics and vision), and Matt Farrugia (MBA, first investor with commercial expertise), the company has raised over £4.5m to date — including a £2.6m round led by Par Equity in March 2022 with participation from Old College Capital, Gareth Williams (Skyscanner co-founder), and Olaf Hesse. Other corporate investors include Scottish Investment Bank.
The company has commercially deployed its vision and machine-learning technology with world-leading customers and partners including Porterbrook, Icomera, One Big Circle, Omnicom Balfour Beatty, DG8, and ScotRail. The team is currently hiring a Vision and Machine Learning Engineer focused on real-time edge processing and vision-based augmented reality for rail environments.
Where will I work?
The core team is based in Edinburgh, UK. Flexible Working Location is a named benefit: "Whether your preference is to work from home or from our office, or a combination of the two, it''s completely up to you." Each person gets a £1,000 home working allowance.
What is the Machines With Vision team like?
The leadership team comprises Anthony Ashbrook (Co-founder & CEO), Jon Owen (CTO, PhD, "extensive experience in the railway technology industry"), Justin Stroud (Chief Commercial Officer & Board Advisor, MBA), Nicola Harkness (Head of Marketing), Matt Farrugia (Co-founder & Director, MBA), and Richard Lennox (Director, with deep acquisition experience — Skyscanner-by-Ctrip and Current Health-by-Best Buy).
Anthony Ashbrook on the company''s vision (March 2022): "We are at the forefront of using data to radically improve the efficiency of railways… Transport accounts for almost a quarter of global CO2 emissions, so moving travel by air and road to railways is essential for sustainability."
Work-Life Balance
Machines With Vision operates a 35-hour week with flexible working hours — verbatim: "We operate a 35 hour week and our working hours are flexible. As long as core hours are covered from 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Thursday, you decide when to start and finish your working day!" The team gets 34 holidays per year, completely flexible. The company is a Carbon Positive business and operates rail-biased travel — paying for overnight accommodation rather than flights where feasible.
Perks and Benefits
- 34 holidays per year, completely flexible — you choose when to take them
- Every employee gets share options — everyone is an owner
- 35-hour week with flexible working hours (core 10am-4pm Tue-Thu)
- Work from home, office, or combination — completely up to you
- Private medical insurance — optical and dental cover, option to add family
- Employer-contributed pension with optional NEST Ethical Fund
- Income protection: 75% of salary for up to 2 years after sickness start
- Enhanced parental leave over and above statutory requirements
- £1,000 per year per employee L&D budget + £1,000 home working allowance
- Cycle to Work scheme + rail-biased travel + 1 volunteering day/year + paid blood donation time
- Recruitment bonus: £2,500 on hire + £2,500 once probation completed
- Carbon Positive — committed to reducing and over-offsetting carbon footprint each year