Research Scientist, Camera and Sensor Systems

Meta; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 219,000 - 301,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Meta Reality Labs seeks a Research Scientist to advance camera systems and sensor technologies for AR/VR devices. You will conduct foundational and applied research to develop imaging architectures and computational photography pipelines enabling immersive, real-world-aware experiences on wearable hardware.

You will publish findings, mentor researchers, and translate prototypes into production-ready systems while collaborating with hardware, optics, and silicon teams.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of research experience in camera systems, computational imaging, sensor design, or related fields.
• Publications in top-tier venues such as CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, SIGGRAPH, ICCP, or IEEE Transactions on Image Processing.
• Experience designing or co-designing imaging hardware and sensor systems, including optics, ISP pipelines, and sensor physics.
• Experience deploying imaging algorithms on embedded or resource-constrained platforms.
• Track record translating foundational research into product impact with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the long-term research vision for camera and sensor systems across AR/VR and wearable devices.
• Conduct original research in imaging science, sensor physics, and computational photography.
• Architect sensor fusion frameworks integrating RGB, depth, IMU data for robust perception.
• Develop and validate computational imaging algorithms (HDR, low-light, optical flow) for wearable hardware.
• Collaborate with hardware, optics, and silicon teams to co-design sensor architectures.
• Translate research prototypes into production-quality systems with product and engineering teams.
• Publish findings in top venues and represent Meta at imaging/computer vision conferences.
• Establish technical direction and roadmaps for camera and sensor capabilities across Reality Labs.
• Mentor researchers and engineers working on imaging and sensing problems.
• Identify emerging sensor technologies and imaging paradigms for next-gen wearables.

Skills

Camera systems

Computational imaging

Sensor design

Sensor fusion

Machine learning in imaging

Job description

Meta Reality Labs is seeking a Research Scientist to advance the science of camera systems and sensor technologies for next-generation augmented and virtual reality devices. In this role, you will conduct foundational and applied research to develop novel imaging architectures, sensor modalities, and computational photography pipelines that enable immersive, real-world-aware experiences on wearable AR/VR hardware. Your work will directly shape the perceptual capabilities of Meta's spatial computing platforms, from smart glasses to mixed reality headsets, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in scene understanding, depth sensing, and real-time visual capture at the intersection of optics, hardware, and algorithms.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the long-term research vision for camera and sensor systems across Meta's AR/VR and wearable device portfolio
• Conduct original research in imaging science, sensor physics, computational photography, and multi-modal sensing to solve fundamental challenges in spatial computing
• Architect novel sensor fusion frameworks that integrate data from RGB cameras, depth sensors, IMUs, and other modalities for robust real-world perception
• Develop and validate computational imaging algorithms including HDR, low-light enhancement, optical flow, and real-time image signal processing pipelines for resource-constrained wearable hardware
• Collaborate with hardware engineering, optics, and silicon teams to co-design sensor architectures that meet the form factor, power, and latency requirements of AR glasses and VR headsets
• Translate research prototypes into production-quality systems by partnering with product and engineering teams across the full development lifecycle
• Publish research findings in top-tier peer-reviewed venues and represent Meta at leading conferences in imaging, computer vision, and sensor science
• Establish technical direction and research roadmaps for camera and sensor capabilities, influencing multi-year product strategy across Reality Labs
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to other researchers and engineers working on imaging and sensing problems
• Identify and evaluate emerging sensor technologies and imaging paradigms that could define the next generation of wearable perceptual systems

Minimum Qualifications

• 12+ years of research experience in camera systems, computational imaging, sensor design, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated record of research leadership resulting in publications in top-tier venues such as CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, SIGGRAPH, ICCP, or IEEE Transactions on Image Processing
• Experience designing or co-designing imaging hardware and sensor systems, including knowledge of optics, image signal processing pipelines, and sensor physics
• Experience developing and deploying computational photography or sensor fusion algorithms on embedded or resource-constrained platforms
• Track record of translating foundational research into product impact at scale, including cross-functional collaboration with hardware and engineering teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AR/VR or wearable device development, including understanding of the unique imaging and sensing constraints imposed by head-mounted form factors
• Expertise in depth sensing technologies such as structured light, time-of-flight, or stereo vision, and their integration with RGB imaging systems
• History of filing patents and driving intellectual property strategy in camera, optics, or sensor domains
• Experience applying machine learning and neural network approaches to image reconstruction, scene understanding, or sensor calibration problems

About Meta

Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.

Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Meta participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Please note that Meta may leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in connection with applications for employment.

Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at [e-mail].

$219,000/year to $301,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits

Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.