Research Scientist, Camera and Sensor Systems

Meta•Burlingame, CA

13d•$219,000 - $301,000

About The Position

Meta Reality Labs is seeking a Research Scientist to advance the science of camera systems and sensor technologies for next-generation augmented and virtual reality devices. In this role, you will conduct foundational and applied research to develop novel imaging architectures, sensor modalities, and computational photography pipelines that enable immersive, real-world-aware experiences on wearable AR/VR hardware. Your work will directly shape the perceptual capabilities of Meta's spatial computing platforms, from smart glasses to mixed reality headsets, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in scene understanding, depth sensing, and real-time visual capture at the intersection of optics, hardware, and algorithms.

Requirements

12+ years of research experience in camera systems, computational imaging, sensor design, or a closely related field
Demonstrated record of research leadership resulting in publications in top-tier venues such as CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, SIGGRAPH, ICCP, or IEEE Transactions on Image Processing
Experience designing or co-designing imaging hardware and sensor systems, including knowledge of optics, image signal processing pipelines, and sensor physics
Experience developing and deploying computational photography or sensor fusion algorithms on embedded or resource-constrained platforms
Track record of translating foundational research into product impact at scale, including cross-functional collaboration with hardware and engineering teams

Nice To Haves

Experience with AR/VR or wearable device development, including understanding of the unique imaging and sensing constraints imposed by head-mounted form factors
Expertise in depth sensing technologies such as structured light, time-of-flight, or stereo vision, and their integration with RGB imaging systems
History of filing patents and driving intellectual property strategy in camera, optics, or sensor domains
Experience applying machine learning and neural network approaches to image reconstruction, scene understanding, or sensor calibration problems

Responsibilities

Define and drive the long-term research vision for camera and sensor systems across Meta's AR/VR and wearable device portfolio
Conduct original research in imaging science, sensor physics, computational photography, and multi-modal sensing to solve fundamental challenges in spatial computing
Architect novel sensor fusion frameworks that integrate data from RGB cameras, depth sensors, IMUs, and other modalities for robust real-world perception
Develop and validate computational imaging algorithms including HDR, low-light enhancement, optical flow, and real-time image signal processing pipelines for resource-constrained wearable hardware
Collaborate with hardware engineering, optics, and silicon teams to co-design sensor architectures that meet the form factor, power, and latency requirements of AR glasses and VR headsets
Translate research prototypes into production-quality systems by partnering with product and engineering teams across the full development lifecycle
Publish research findings in top-tier peer-reviewed venues and represent Meta at leading conferences in imaging, computer vision, and sensor science
Establish technical direction and research roadmaps for camera and sensor capabilities, influencing multi-year product strategy across Reality Labs
Mentor and provide technical guidance to other researchers and engineers working on imaging and sensing problems
Identify and evaluate emerging sensor technologies and imaging paradigms that could define the next generation of wearable perceptual systems