Principal AI Systems Architect — Imaging & On-Device AI

Meta; Raleigh (NC); 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 wearables and spatial computing devices. You will shape silicon and systems roadmaps for on-device AI inference and training workloads, with emphasis on imaging pipelines and real-time perception.

In this role, you will drive end-to-end camera subsystems, performance models, and HW-SW co-design initiatives across

Qualifications

• 12+ years of hardware systems architecture experience in AI, ML, imaging.
• Deep expertise in camera pipeline architecture, ISP, and sensor integration.
• Experience defining SoC or system-level architecture for AI workloads.
• Experience imaging subsystems for real-time computer vision, including multi-camera systems.
• Experience HW-SW co-design for on-device AI and imaging workloads.
• Experience with performance modeling and simulation for architectural trade-offs.
• Track record influencing silicon strategy across large engineering organizations.

Responsibilities

• Define multi-generation hardware architecture strategy for AI inference and training on 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

Hardware architecture

Camera pipeline

SoC design

ISP tuning

Hardware-software co-design

Performance modeling

Executive communication

Interconnect topology

Multi-camera systems

ML compiler stacks

Tools

HBM / LPDDR5X

Simulation tools

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 wearables and spatial computing devices. You will shape silicon and systems roadmaps for on-device AI inference and training workloads, with emphasis on imaging pipelines and real-time perception.

In this role, you will drive end-to-end camera subsystems, performance models, and HW-SW co-design initiatives across