AI Systems Engineer, Hardware Architecture

Meta; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 208,000 - 289,000; Full time

Job summary

Meta Reality Labs seeks a principal-level AI Systems Engineer to define the hardware architecture strategy for next-generation AI-accelerated computing systems powering VR and AR devices. You will shape the silicon and systems roadmap for on-device AI inference and training across wearables, headsets, and spatial computing platforms.

A core focus is driving imaging architecture, including camera pipelines and ISPs, to enable real-time perception and mixed reality experiences.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of hardware architecture experience in AI, ML, imaging, or HPC.
• Deep expertise in camera pipeline, ISP, sensor integration.
• Experience defining SoC/system architecture for AI workloads.
• Experience with hardware-software co-design and ML frameworks.
• Proven track record shaping multi-year roadmaps for imaging/AI.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute multi-generation hardware architecture strategy for AI inference and training.
• Lead architecture exploration across compute, memory, interconnect, and power.
• Design end-to-end camera/imaging pipelines with sensor interfaces and ISP integration.
• Collaborate with silicon, firmware, camera, and ML teams to optimize performance.
• Communicate architecture vision to executives and stakeholders.

Skills

HW architecture strategy

System-level architecture

Camera imaging pipelines

HW/SW co-design

Camera subsystems requirements

AI accelerators & ISPs

Performance modeling

Technical leadership

Imaging latency optimization

External partnerships

Executive communication

Job description

Summary:

Meta Reality Labs is seeking a principal-level AI Systems Engineer to define the hardware architecture strategy for next-generation AI-accelerated computing systems powering virtual and augmented reality products. In this role, you will shape the long-term silicon and systems roadmap for on-device AI inference and training workloads across wearables, headsets, and spatial computing platforms. A core focus of this role is driving the architecture of advanced imaging systems and camera pipelines that enable real-time perception, scene understanding, and mixed reality experiences. You will drive architectural decisions that span custom silicon, memory subsystems, interconnects, image signal processors (ISPs), camera subsystems, and software-hardware co-design, ensuring Meta's AI hardware remains at the forefront of performance, efficiency, and capability for immersive computing experiences.

Required Skills:

1. Define multi-generation hardware architecture strategy for AI inference and training systems across VR, AR, and wearable device platforms
2. Lead system-level architectural exploration and trade-off analysis across compute, memory hierarchy, interconnect fabric, and power delivery for on-device AI workloads
3. Architect end-to-end camera and imaging pipelines, including sensor interfaces, ISP integration, and real-time image processing for computer vision and perception applications
4. Drive hardware-software co-design initiatives by partnering with silicon engineering, firmware, camera systems, and ML platform teams to optimize end-to-end AI and imaging pipeline performance
5. Define architectural requirements for camera subsystems including multi-camera synchronization, depth sensing, and low-latency visual processing for AR/VR applications
6. Establish architectural requirements and performance targets for custom AI accelerators, ISPs, SoCs, and supporting subsystems in spatial computing devices
7. Develop and maintain system performance models and simulation frameworks to evaluate architectural decisions against real-world AI and imaging workload characteristics
8. Provide architectural guidance and technical direction across hardware engineering organizations, aligning imaging and AI roadmaps with product and research priorities
9. Identify and resolve system-level bottlenecks in imaging latency, AI inference throughput, and energy efficiency for wearable and headset form factors
10. Engage with external silicon partners, camera module vendors, and research institutions to evaluate emerging imaging technologies and incorporate them into long-range architecture plans
11. Communicate architectural vision and technical rationale to executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders through written proposals and design reviews

Minimum Qualifications:

1. 12+ years of experience in hardware systems architecture, with a focus on AI, ML, imaging systems, or high-performance compute systems
2. Deep expertise in camera pipeline architecture, including image signal processing (ISP), sensor integration, and end-to-end imaging system design
3. Experience defining SoC or system-level architecture for AI inference or training workloads, including memory subsystem design, compute hierarchy, and interconnect topology
4. Experience architecting imaging subsystems for real-time computer vision applications, including multi-camera systems, depth sensing, and visual-inertial odometry
5. Experience with hardware-software co-design methodologies for on-device AI and imaging workloads, including familiarity with ML compiler stacks and ISP tuning workflows
6. Experience developing system performance models and using simulation or analytical frameworks to evaluate architectural trade-offs at scale
7. Track record of driving multi-year hardware architecture roadmaps for imaging and AI systems and influencing silicon strategy across large engineering organizations

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Familiarity with custom silicon development flows for imaging and AI accelerators, including architecture-to-RTL handoff, physical design constraints, and post-silicon validation
2. Experience architecting AI and imaging systems for power- and area-constrained wearable or mobile devices, including VR headsets, AR glasses, or similar spatial computing platforms
3. Expertise in computational photography pipelines, HDR processing, and neural ISP architectures
4. Background in collaborating with ML research and camera teams to translate novel imaging algorithms and model architectures into hardware-efficient deployment targets
5. Experience evaluating and integrating emerging memory technologies (e.g., HBM, LPDDR5X, in-memory compute) into AI and imaging system architectures

Public Compensation:

$208,000/year to $289,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits

Industry:

Internet

Equal Opportunity:

Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Aff… (full paragraph continues as provided)

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