Headset AI Systems Architect—Imaging & On-Device AI

Meta; Helena (MT); On-site; USD 208,000 - 289,000; Full time

Job 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 VR, AR, and wearables. You will shape the silicon and systems roadmap for on-device AI inference and training, focusing on imaging and camera pipelines for real-time perception and mixed reality experiences.

You will lead architecture across custom silicon, memory, interconnects, ISPs, and camera subsystems, collaborate with

Qualifications

• 12+ years of hardware systems architecture experience focused on AI, ML, imaging systems, or high-performance compute.
• Deep expertise in camera pipeline architecture, including ISP, sensor integration, and end-to-end imaging system design.
• Experience defining SoC or system-level architecture for AI inference or training workloads, including memory subsystem design, compute hierarchy, and interconnect topology.
• Experience architecting imaging subsystems for real-time computer vision applications, including multi-camera systems, depth sensing, and visual-inertial odometry.
• Experience with hardware-software co-design methodologies for on-device AI and imaging workloads, including familiarity with ML compiler stacks and ISP tuning workflows.
• Experience developing system performance models and using simulation or analytical frameworks to evaluate architectural trade-offs at scale.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Camera pipeline architecture

AI hardware architecture

HW-SW co-design

Performance modeling

System-level architecture

Job description

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 VR, AR, and wearables. You will shape the silicon and systems roadmap for on-device AI inference and training, focusing on imaging and camera pipelines for real-time perception and mixed reality experiences.

You will lead architecture across custom silicon, memory, interconnects, ISPs, and camera subsystems, collaborate with