R&D Engineer, Computer Vision and 3D Reconstruction

Inria; Valbonne; Hybrid; EUR 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public transport reimbursement

Leave: 7 weeks + RTT days

Teleworking possibility

Professional equipment

Cultural and sports events

Vocational training

Mutual insurance

Job summary

Inria Côte d'Azur University Center is seeking an R&D Engineer, focusing on computer vision and 3D reconstruction. You will develop methods to compare real-world 3D captures with references, aligning heterogeneous representations and detecting change robustly in varied capture conditions.

The role involves implementing 3D alignment, geometry-material-lighting decomposition, and training vision models on real and synthetic data, with integration into visualization tools.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree, Masters or PhD in Computer Science or related field.
• Experience training and evaluating deep learning models with PyTorch.
• Solid grounding in computer vision, including multiview geometry and modern vision models.
• Interest in joining an early-stage startup.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement 3D alignment methods combining visual/semantic correspondences with rendered geometry.
• Develop geometry-material-lighting decomposition for Gaussian Splatting representations.
• Detect and segment changes between captures or with digital models using images, depth, normals, and vision models.
• Train and evaluate models on real and synthetic data; integrate into visualization tools.

Skills

Deep learning

PyTorch

Computer vision

Multiview geometry

Startup interest

Education

Engineering degree or higher in CS

Tools

GLSL

CUDA

Job description

R&D Engineer, Computer Vision and 3D Reconstruction

Level of qualifications required : Graduate degree or equivalent

Fonction : Temporary scientific engineer

About the research centre or Inria department

Inria is the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science, of which the Inria Côte d'Azur University Center is a part. With strong expertise in computer science and applied mathematics, the research projects of the Inria Côte d'Azur University Center cover all aspects of digital science and technology and generate innovation. Based mainly in Sophia Antipolis, but also in Nice and Montpellier, it brings together 47 research teams and nine support services. It is active in the fields of artificial intelligence, data science, IT system security, robotics, network engineering, natural risk prevention, ecological transition, digital biology, computational neuroscience, health data, and more. The Inria Center at Université Côte d'Azur is a major player in terms of scientific excellence, thanks to the results it has achieved and its collaborations at both European and international level.

Context

This position is part of a project run by OnTheFly (onthefly3d.com), a startup venture spun out of Inria's GraphDeco team, the researchers who invented 3D Gaussian Splatting, with support from Inria Startup Studio.

The project is building smartphone-based 3D capture tools for professional use, combining instant reconstruction with automated analysis of real-world sites over time.

Assignment

Develop methods to automatically compare 3D reconstructions of real-world captures against reference data, such as digital models or earlier captures of the same site. The work covers aligning heterogeneous 3D representations, as well as detecting and segmenting changes robustly under real-world capture conditions.

Main activities

Design and implement 3D alignment methods that combine visual or semantic correspondences with rendered geometric information. Develop geometry-material-lighting decomposition approaches for Gaussian Splatting representations. Build methods to detect and segment differences between captures, or between a reconstruction and its digital model, using images, depth, normals and vision models. Train and evaluate models on both real and synthetic data, then integrate the resulting methods into visualization tools.

Skills

Requirements

• Engineering degree, Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science or related fields
• Experience training and evaluating deep learning models with differentiable programming frameworks such as PyTorch
• Solid grounding in computer vision, from fundamentals such as multiview geometry to modern vision models (e.g., vision transformers, vision-language models)
• Interest in joining an early-stage startup

Preferred

• Experience with shader or parallel programming (e.g., GLSL, CUDA)
• Experience with 3D Gaussian Splatting, neural rendering or inverse rendering
• Familiarity with BIM workflows

Benefits package

• Partial reimbursement of public transport costs
• Leave: 7 weeks of annual leave + 10 extra days off due to RTT (statutory reduction in working hours) + possibility of exceptional leave (sick children, moving home, etc.)
• Possibility of teleworking and flexible organization of working hours
• Professional equipment available (videoconferencing, loan of computer equipment, etc.)
• Social, cultural and sports events and activities
• Access to vocational training
• Contribution to mutual insurance (subject to conditions)

Remuneration

From 2692 € gross monthly (according to degree and experience)

• Theme/Domain :Interaction and visualization
  Software engineering(BAP E)

Defence Security :
This position is likely to be situated in a restricted area (ZRR), as defined in Decree No. 2011-1425 relating to the protection of national scientific and technical potential (PPST).Authorisation to enter an area is granted by the director of the unit, following a favourable Ministerial decision, as defined in the decree of 3 July 2012 relating to the PPST. An unfavourable Ministerial decision in respect of a position situated in a ZRR would result in the cancellation of the appointment.

Recruitment Policy :
As part of its diversity policy, all Inria positions are accessible to people with disabilities.

Inria, the French national institute for research in digital science and technology, supports the French government in national research and innovation strategies in the digital field, acting as Digital Programs Agency. Inria leads over 300 research and innovation projects with its 3,500 scientists, engineers, and support staff, in partnership with universities and the digital ecosystem (businesses, entrepreneurs, and public stakeholders). Together, we explore strategic fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum computing, cloud technologies, digital transformation in healthcare, digital twins, and digital technologies for defence. We develop practical solutions such as software, tech startups, partnerships with national companies, and cutting-edge training programmes. Our goal is to drive scientific, technological, and industrial excellence to ensure France’s digital sovereignty.