Staff Image Quality Engineer

Carl Zeiss X-ray Microscopy, Inc.; Dublin (CA); On-site; USD 167,000 - 208,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Vision

Dental 401k Matching

Vacation and sick pay

Job summary

Carl Zeiss X-ray Microscopy, Inc. in Dublin, CA, seeks a QA-focused imaging engineer to advance quality assurance across CT and imaging workflows. You will define IQ metrics, build analysis pipelines, and collaborate with software and hardware teams.

You will lead NPI and sustaining efforts, develop calibration and reconstruction methods, train engineers, and ensure compliance with safety standards. A Master’s or PhD in engineering/physics/computer science with 10+ years in X-ray/CT imaging is

Qualifications

• Field of education: Master’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or Computer Sciences with 10 years of experience, or Ph.D. with 5 years in X-ray/CT imaging.
• Experience with X-ray or CT imaging is required.
• Engineering documentation in high detail is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Imaging Performance & Metrics: Define and own system level IQ metrics and acceptance criteria; publish dashboards and control charts.
• Algorithm, Calibration & Reconstruction: Develop calibration and reconstruction methods; prototype and validate with datasets.
• NPI & Sustaining / Escalation Leadership: Lead IQ for NPI programs and investigations; provide 8D coordinations.
• Cross Functional Enablement & Training: Deliver CT theory training; embed IQ checks into SOPs.
• Documentation, Quality & Compliance: Maintain protocols and support risk analyses and change control.

Skills

IQ metrics

Python

Matlab

Quality assurance

Cross-functional collaboration

CT theory

Education

Master’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or Computer Sciences

PhD in Engineering, Physics, or Computer Sciences

Tools

Python

Matlab

FBP

SART/SIRT/TV/CS

Job description

About Us:

How many companies can say they have been in business for over 178 years?! Here at ZEISS, we certainly can! As the pioneers of science, ZEISS handles the ever-changing environments in a fast-paced world, meeting it with cutting edge technologies and continuous advancements. ZEISS believes that innovation and technology are the key to a sustainable future and solutions for global change. We have a diverse range of portfolios throughout the ZEISS family in segments like Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. We are a global company with over 42,000 employees and have over 4,000 in the US and Canada alone! Make a difference, come join the team!

Step out of your comfort zone, excel and redefine the limits of what is possible. That’s just what our employees are doing every single day – in order to set the pace through our innovations and enable outstanding achievements. After all, behind every successful company are many great fascinating people. In a spacious modern setting full of opportunities for further development, ZEISS employees work in a place where expert knowledge and team spirit reign supreme. All of this is supported by a special ownership structure and the long-term goal of the Carl Zeiss Foundation: to bring science and society into the future together. Join us today. Inspire people tomorrow.

Location: Dublin, CA

What’s the role?

This job role is responsible for supporting quality assurance efforts across business operations to ensure adherence to standards and enhance overall performance. They conduct quality assessments, analyze process efficiencies, and implement best practices to identify and resolve quality issues. They collaborate with cross-functional teams to support quality excellence, foster a culture of quality awareness, and align quality initiatives with organizational goals.

Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Imaging Performance & Metrics Define and own system level IQ metrics and acceptance criteria (e.g., resolution/MTF, contrast, uniformity, artifact levels, reconstruction time/throughput, and defect detectability for representative samples). Design and execute repeatable IQ test protocols and golden sample workflows for engineering builds, production release, and sustaining; publish dashboards and control charts. Build analysis pipelines (Python/Matlab) to compute MTF, SNR/CNR, and other modality appropriate figures of merit.

2. Algorithm, Calibration & Reconstruction Develop/evaluate calibration (e.g., gain/offset/dark current, reference correction, geometric calibration, ring reduction), preprocessing (beam hardening correction, scatter mitigation), and reconstruction (FBP; iterative/SART/SIRT/TV/CS; artifact suppression) methods; partner with software teams to productize. Prototype algorithms on representative datasets; create validation plans and datasets; quantify improvements vs. baselines. Contribute to scan optimization playbooks (exposure, energy filtration, geometric magnification, trajectories, limited angle strategies) for target use cases.

3. NPI & Sustaining / Escalation Leadership Serve as the IQ lead for NPI programs: define IQ requirements, author verification/validation plans, analyze results, and drive derisking experiments at key gates. Lead root cause investigations for field and production IQ issues (e.g., beam hardening, cone angle / limited angle artifacts, photon starvation, motion, detector nonuniformity), define corrective actions, and close the loop with production and service. Provide tier3 support for image quality escalations and coordinate multidisciplinary 8D investigations as needed.

4. Cross Functional Enablement & Training Create and deliver training on CT theory and practical scanning for engineers and applications specialists; mentor peers in artifact recognition and mitigation. Define best practices and SOPs for IQ checks in manufacturing and service; partner with QA/ME to embed checks into line/test stations.

5. Documentation, Quality & Compliance Author and maintain protocols, work instructions, calibration procedures, and release notes; ensure traceability from requirements to verification results. Support risk analysis (e.g., FMEA) and contribute to design history and change control (ECR/ECO) packages. Adhere to radiation safety, lab safety, and applicable regulatory standards.

Note: Essential functions may not be limited to the tasks and responsibilities listed within this section. Ordering of essential functions does not necessarily reflect the importance of the item.

Do you qualify?

Field of education: Master’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or Computer Sciences, with 10 years of experience, or Ph.D. with 5 years of relevant experience. Degree and experience should be within field of X-ray, CT, microscopy, or medical imaging. Understands a wide range of Internal and 3rd party reconstruction, image processing, and 3D visualization software Experience with X-ray or CT technology required. Demonstrated ability to generate and maintain engineering documentation in high levels of technical detail desired.

We have amazing benefits to support you as an employee at ZEISS!

• Medical Vision
• Dental 401k Matching Employee Assistance Programs
• Vacation and sick pay
• The list goes on!

The annual pay range for this position is $167,000 – $208,000

The pay offered for this role may be influenced by factors such as job location, scope of role, qualifications, education, experience, & complexity/specialization/scarcity of talent. This position is also eligible for a performance bonus or sales commissions.

ZEISS also offers robust benefits, including medical plans, retirement savings plan and paid time off.

Zeiss provides Equal Employment Opportunity without unlawful regard to an Applicants race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, citizen status, sexual orientation, pregnancy (includes childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition), genetic predisposition, carrier status, gender expression or identity, including transgender identity, or any other class or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law of the employee (or the people with whom the employee associates, including relatives and friends).

Diversity is a part of ZEISS. We look forward to receiving your application regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, philosophy of life, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity.