Applied Vision Scientist, XR Perception - PICO Lab (San Jose)

ByteDance; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 233,000 - 388,000; Full time

Job summary

Pico is seeking an Applied Vision Scientist for the XR Perception team in San Jose to shape perception-driven computer vision and display systems for XR products. You will craft perceptual specifications, run rigorous user studies, and build models and prototypes that enhance visual quality and comfort across Pico XR hardware and software.

The role requires deep knowledge of vision science, psychophysics, and statistical modeling, with experience in XR products and biosensing modalities.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Vision Science, Perceptual Psychology, Computational Neuroscience, Optometry, Human Factors, Imaging Science, Color Science, Optics, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience (inclusive of graduate school research) in related fields.
• Deep understanding of the human visual system, visual perception, and image quality concepts.
• Strong familiarity with psychophysics methods and experiment design, including stimulus design, adaptive procedures, and validation through user studies.
• Strong background in data analysis and statistical theory, with experience applying rigorous statistical methods to behavioral and perceptual data.
• Solid knowledge of computational modeling, including building and validating models of visual perception or human performance.
• Experience working with large-scale, complex datasets and data analysis pipelines, plus proficiency in one or more scripting, modeling, data analysis, or prototyping languages such as Python, MATLAB, or C++.

Responsibilities

• Define novel, product-critical perceptual specifications and metrics that quantify user experience in visual quality, visual comfort, and human performance for AR/VR products, and drive their adoption in system architecture and product requirements.
• Design, conduct, and analyze psychophysics experiments and user studies to characterize human visual perception, validate novel features, and inform product decisions with statistically rigorous evidence.
• Implement and develop XR-related features, leveraging multimodal sensor data and biometric signals (e.g., eye tracking, EEG/EOG, and other biosensing data), from algorithm prototyping through integration and validation.
• Develop and maintain simulation platforms, computational models, and prototypes to accelerate hardware design iterations and software optimizations.
• Apply perception science and early vision modeling to identify system limitations of next-generation display and imaging systems, and translate findings into actionable architecture specifications.

Skills

Vision Science

Psychophysics

Computational modeling

Data analysis

Python

Education

Advanced degree in Vision Science / related field

Tools

Python

MATLAB

C++

Job description

Applied Vision Scientist, XR Perception - PICO Lab (San Jose)

Location:

San Jose

Team:

Technology

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Code:

A248823

Share this listing:

Responsibilities

About TeamPICO's Imaging Systems & Human Engineering team is seeking a passionate and versatile Vision Scientist to help shape the next generation of perception-driven computational camera and display systems for PICO XR products. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of vision science, strong command of psychophysics methods and statistical theory, and solid computational modeling skills. Experience with eye tracking, EEG/EOG, and other biosensing modalities, as well as hands‑on experience with XR products and AI agents, is highly valued. The ideal candidate is also able to thrive in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.

In this role, you will play a key part in defining perceptual specifications, running rigorous user studies, and building the models, prototypes, and features that optimize user experience across PICO's imaging products.

• Define novel, product‑critical perceptual specifications and metrics that quantify user experience in visual quality, visual comfort, and human performance for AR/VR products, and drive their adoption in system architecture and product requirements.
• Design, conduct, and analyze psychophysics experiments and user studies to characterize human visual perception, validate novel features, and inform product decisions with statistically rigorous evidence.
• Implement and develop XR‑related features, leveraging multimodal sensor data and biometric signals (e.g., eye tracking, EEG/EOG, and other biosensing data), from algorithm prototyping through integration and validation.
• Develop and maintain simulation platforms, computational models, and prototypes to accelerate hardware design iterations and software optimizations.
• Apply perception science and early vision modeling to identify system limitations of next‑generation display and imaging systems, and translate findings into actionable architecture specifications.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification(s)

• Advanced degree in Vision Science, Perceptual Psychology, Computational Neuroscience, Optometry, Human Factors, Imaging Science, Color Science, Optics, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience (inclusive of graduate school research experience) in related fields.
• Deep understanding of the human visual system, visual perception, and image quality concepts.
• Strong familiarity with psychophysics methods and experiment design, including stimulus design, adaptive procedures, and validation through user studies.
• Strong background in data analysis and statistical theory, with experience applying rigorous statistical methods to behavioral and perceptual data.
• Solid knowledge of computational modeling, including building and validating models of visual perception or human performance.
• Experience working with large‑scale, complex datasets and data analysis pipelines, plus proficiency in one or more scripting, modeling, data analysis, or prototyping languages such as Python, MATLAB, or C++.

Preferred Qualification(s)

• Experience with eye tracking (ET), EEG, EOG, or other biosensing technologies, including signal acquisition, processing, and analysis, and their applications in perception research or product features.
• Experience working with XR products (AR/VR/MR), including understanding of hardware‑software imaging and display system architecture.
• Experience working with AI agents and platforms or integrating AI/ML tools into research and development workflows.
• Experience in engineering productization and delivery, including translating research prototypes into production‑ready solutions.
• Expertise in one or more areas of visual comfort, spatio‑temporal vision, visual optics, binocular vision, or visual neuroscience.
• Experience in the related consumer electronics industry and understanding of hardware‑software imaging system architecture.

Job Information

The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $162000 - $387600 annually.

Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.

Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short‑term and long‑term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).

The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.

For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment: 1. Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues; 2. Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and 3. Exercising sound judgment.

About Pico

Founded in April 2015, Pico is a VR company committed to developing immersive and interactive VR experiences for people around the world. Pico also provides tailor‑made solutions for our enterprise clients in the fields of education and healthcare.