AI Research Scientist

Zebra Technologies; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days vacation

Volunteer time off

Bonus scheme

Annual raises

Pension scheme

Private medical and dental

Cycle to work

Employee assistance

Job summary

Zebra Technologies is seeking an AI Research Scientist in London to bridge research and on‑device execution. You will prototype algorithms, train spatial models, and optimize them for edge devices to power AR and enterprise vision.

You will work with a cross‑functional team, contribute to spatial AI innovations, and help ship cutting‑edge solutions from the London hub. Hybrid work is supported.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or related field with focus on Computer Vision, Spatial AI or Robotics.
• At least 2 years of hands‑on R&D in SLAM/Spatial tracking systems.
• Strong theory and practical skills in SLAM, VIO, 6‑DoF pose tracking, sensor fusion, and camera calibration.
• Proficient in C++ and/or Python with ML/Computer Vision frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Research, design, and implement VIO, 6‑DoF pose estimation, and monocular SLAM for edge hardware.
• Develop spatial localisation, multi‑view triangulation, feature plane fitting, and drift reduction algorithms.
• Translate papers to real‑time algorithms, optimise neural networks for mobile NPUs/DSPs/GPUs.
• Build on‑device AR experiences, barcode/product recognition, OCR, and multi‑modal edge AI without cloud.
• Collaborate with global teams to integrate models into product roadmaps.

Skills

C++

Python

SLAM

Sensor Fusion

Computer Vision

Education

Master's degree in CS/Robotics

PhD in related field

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.