AI Research Scientist

NCSL International; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days vacation

Annual bonuses

Pension scheme with matched 7%

Private medical and dental

Job summary

Zebra is seeking an AI Research Scientist to advance SLAM and Visual-Inertial Odometry, focusing on 6‑DoF pose estimation and edge‑device execution. You will prototype algorithms, train spatial models, and optimize pipelines to run on mobile NPUs, DSPs, and GPUs, enabling AR and edge intelligence without cloud reliance.

You will be based in our central London research hub, working in a hybrid model with in‑person collaboration and remote days, and partnering with global hardware, software, and

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a quantitative field with focus on Computer Vision or Robotics.
• Hands-on R&D experience in SLAM and Spatial AI projects.
• Strong knowledge of 3D geometry, calibration, and epipolar geometry.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement VIO and monocular SLAM pipelines for edge hardware.
• Develop spatial localization, multi-view triangulation, and plane fitting.
• Convert research into real-time algorithms optimized for NPUs/DSPs/GPUs.
• Build on-device AR experiences and multi-modal edge AI capabilities.
• Collaborate with global teams to roadmap model integration.

Skills

SLAM/VIO expertise

6-DoF pose tracking

sensor fusion (IMU + Vision)

C++ and Python

edge AI on mobile hardware

torch/OpenCV/ROS/GTSAM/Ceres

Education

Master's or PhD in Computer Science/Robotics/Electrical Engineering

Tools

PyTorch

OpenCV

ROS

GTSAM

Ceres Solver

Job description

Overview:

At Zebra, we are a community of innovators who come together to create new ways of working. United by curiosity and a culture of caring, we develop smart solutions that anticipate our customer's and partner's needs and solve their challenges.

Being part of Zebra Nation means you are seen, heard, valued, and respected. Drawing from our unique perspectives, we collaborate to deliver on our purpose. Here you are part of a team pushing boundaries today to redefine the work of tomorrow for organizations, their employees, and those they serve.

You’ll have opportunities to learn and lead in a forward-thinking environment, defining your path to a fulfilling career while channeling your skills toward causes you care about‑locally and globally.

Come make an impact every day at Zebra.

What We're Looking For:

We are looking for an AI Research Scientist specialising in SLAM, Visual‑Inertial Odometry (VIO), and 3D Spatial Perception to join our central CTO Group. In this horizontal, high‑impact organisation, you will collaborate with cross‑functional business units across the globe and work closely with our London‑based research hub of ~15 AI specialists.

In this role, you will be bridging the gap between innovation and on‑device execution—prototyping new algorithms, training spatial models, and optimising them to run directly on resource‑constrained mobile edge devices to power next‑generation Augmented Reality (AR), enterprise vision, and edge intelligence.

You will be based at our central London office (Endeavour House, Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8JR) on a flexible hybrid model—collaborating in person 3 days a week, with 2 days working from home.

Responsibilities:

• Research, design, and implement robust Visual‑Inertial Odometry (VIO), 6‑DoF camera pose estimation, and monocular SLAM pipelines tailored for resource‑constrained edge hardware.
• Develop advanced algorithms for spatial localisation, multi‑view ray triangulation, sensor fusion (IMU + Camera), and plane‑fitting (e.g., RANSAC, PnP) to achieve sub‑centimetre overlay accuracy and eliminate tracking drift.
• Translate research papers into real‑time algorithms, optimising neural networks and spatial pipelines for low‑latency execution on mobile NPUs, DSPs, and GPUs.
• Build spatial foundations that deliver seamless on‑device AR experiences, barcode/shelf product recognition, OCR, and multi‑modal edge AI capabilities without relying on cloud connectivity.
• Partner with global hardware, software, and product engineering teams to integrate your models into commercial product roadmaps.

Qualifications:

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related quantitative field with a specialised focus on Computer Vision, Spatial AI, or Robotics.
• At least 2 years of hands‑on experience in research and development of SLAM / Spatial tracking systems.
• Deep theoretical understanding and hands‑on implementation of SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) and VIO (Visual‑Inertial Odometry).
• Strong foundation in 6‑DoF pose tracking, sensor fusion (IMU + Vision), and camera calibration (intrinsic/extrinsic parameters).
• 3D geometric computer vision: ray‑plane intersections, epipolar geometry, bundle adjustment, and monocular depth estimation.
• High proficiency in C++ and/or Python, along with standard ML and Computer Vision frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, OpenCV, ROS/GTSAM/Ceres Solver).

Benefits:

• 25 days of vacation
• Up to 32 hours paid time off per year to volunteer with a charity of your choice
• Reward & Recognition scheme—earn points to spend online
• Training and personal development in soft skills and hard skills, access to our internal learning portal and internal career opportunities within Zebra departments
• Annual bonuses based on financial results
• Yearly salary increases according to individual performance
• Employee referral bonus for bringing New Talent to Zebra
• Pension Scheme with a matched contribution up to 7%
• Private medical and dental cover
• Access to an innovative online learning platform
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Program

Incentive Compensation:

In addition to base pay, Zebra offers this role the opportunity to earn a performance‑based annual cash incentive, at a target equal to 10% of base pay, in accordance with the terms of the applicable incentive plan.