Image Scientist - Camera Simulation

Apple Inc.; Cupertino, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 129,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Employee stock purchase plan

Relocation support

Comprehensive medical/dental coverage

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Apple Inc. is seeking an Image Scientist within the Camera Hardware and Depth Architecture group in Cupertino to design, develop, and maintain high-throughput simulation frameworks.

You will model camera systems from sensor to lens, generate synthetic imagery, and simulate real-world imaging performance to guide product architecture decisions. The role requires strong background in imaging, computer vision, or rendering, plus experience with CUDA/OpenCL and large-scale data.

Qualifications

• BS in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Programming experience in C, C++, Python, or Matlab.
• Experience with imaging system design, computer vision, computational imaging, or similar.
• Experience with algorithms for image quality enhancement.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define hardware design specifications and key performance metrics for photographic and machine-vision applications.
• Conduct simulation studies to characterize end-to-end performance (hardware and software) and guide product architecture decisions.
• Partner with metrology and calibration teams to ensure simulation accuracy reflects real-world hardware behavior and communicate findings to stakeholders.

Skills

C

C++

Python

MATLAB

Optics knowledge

Machine vision

Education

BS in Optics, Physics, EE or related field

MS/PhD in Optics, Physics, EE or related field

Tools

CUDA/OpenCL

GPU computing

Job description

Cupertino, California, United States Hardware

Do you love taking on big challenges that require exceptionally creative solutions? Do you deeply understand how an incredible camera experience should work? As part of our Camera Technologies group, you’ll help design the innovative technology that allows each generation of Apple products to produce photos even more incredible than the last. You’ll design and develop groundbreaking ideas for everything involved in our camera systems, from sensor to lens. You’ll collaborate with teams across Apple to research, design, develop, test, and qualify camera hardware for Apple products. Together, we’ll craft a magical photography experience that redefines what millions of customers can expect from their cameras.The Image Sciences team, a part of the Camera Hardware and Depth Team, develops novel metrology, calibration, and simulation processes to enable the implementation and architecture of machine-vision-driven and photographic experiences. We collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to define hardware design specifications and key performance metrics to deliver seamless user experiences. The team is seeking an expert in imaging, computer vision, or rendering with broad skills to help develop next-generation, high-throughput simulation frameworks to guide the design and architecture of products, including AR/VR features.

Description

As an Image Scientist on the Camera & Depth Architecture team, you will design, develop, and maintain high-throughput simulation frameworks to generate large volumes of synthetic imagery on-demand, and build and refine models of camera systems—from sensor to lens—to simulate real-world imaging performance.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define hardware design specifications and key performance metrics for photographic and machine-vision applications.
• Conduct simulation studies to characterize end-to-end performance (hardware and software) and guide product architecture decisions.
• Partner with metrology and calibration teams to ensure simulation accuracy reflects real-world hardware behavior and communicate findings and recommendations to stakeholders across hardware, software, and product teams and manage project deliverables and schedules to meet commitments.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Programming experience in at least one of the coding languages: C, C++, Python, or Matlab.
• Experience with one or more of the following: Optics: imaging system design, Computer Vision, computational imaging, or similar.
• Experience with algorithms for image quality enhancement.

Preferred Qualifications

• MS/PhD degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering or related field and relevant industry experience in Optics or Image Signal Processing.
• Experience in project management and/or driving projects independently in ambiguous problem spaces.
• Published research in imaging, computational photography, or computer vision.
• Experience with camera sensor physics, noise modeling, or radiometry.
• Experience with synthetic data generation for ML training pipelines, model optimization and/or deployment, related to imaging and data analyses.
• Experience with GPU computing (CUDA, OpenCL) or distributed processing at scale.

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $129,300 and $194,700, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

• Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs.
• Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition.
• Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.

Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant

At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace
Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants