Staff Systems Engineer

haydenai; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Hayden AI in San Francisco develops end-to-end perception systems for transit and government use. We seek a Staff Systems Engineer to own architecture, requirements, and system design of hardware-software solutions from concept to deployment.

Based in our SF office with a hybrid schedule (3 days in-office per week), you will lead cross-functional teams across hardware, software, operations, product, and customer engineering to deliver robust imaging systems.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of lens design fundamentals and image sensors.
• Experience with CMOS image sensors, ISPs, and image tuning.
• Proficiency with sensor interfaces GMSL/MIPI/CSI.
• Strong programming skills in C, MATLAB, Python for data analysis and IQ evaluation.
• Ability to read schematics and operate lab equipment (IR meters, lux meters).

Responsibilities

• Define camera architecture with product, camera design and perception teams.
• Evaluate and select CMOS image sensors based on performance metrics.
• Define specifications for custom and off-the-shelf lenses and assemblies.
• Lead integration of camera systems into test vehicles and collect real-world data.
• Collaborate with software to tune Auto-exposure and Auto-white balance; validate camera drivers.

Skills

Lens design fundamentals

CMOS image sensors

ISPs & image tuning

3A algorithms

Sensor interfaces (GMSL/MIPI/CSI)

C, MATLAB, Python

Reading schematics & lab instruments

Image characterization automation

Education

MS or PhD in Science or Engineering

Tools

Imatest

Job description

About Us

At Hayden AI, we are on a mission to harness the power of computer vision to transform the way transit systems and other government agencies address real-world challenges.

From bus lane and bus stop enforcement to transportation optimization technologies and beyond, our innovative mobile perception system empowers our clients to accelerate transit, enhance street safety, and drive toward a sustainable future.

About the Role

As the Staff Systems Engineer, you will play a key technical leadership role in the design, integration, and deployment of complex, end-to-end systems that are essential to Hayden AI’s mission of shaping smarter, more efficient cities. In this role, you will own the architecture, requirements gathering, and system-level design of integrated hardware-software solutions, driving projects from concept through deployment and support. You will report into the Engineering Leadership Team and work closely with hardware, software, operations, product, customer engineering, and field deployment teams. We’re looking for someone with a deep background in systems engineering, proven project leadership experience, and a collaborative, solutions-driven mindset. This position is based in our SF Office and follows a hybrid schedule with at least 3 days in-office per week.

Key Responsibilities

Camera Development:

• Partner with product, camera design and perception team to define camera architecture

• Define specification for image sensor and lens

• Work with ISP vendors and refine camera software for ISP tuning.

Sensor Selection & Integration:

• Evaluate and select CMOS image sensors based on performance metrics such as dynamic range, SNR, and power consumption.

Optical Design & Selection:

• Define specifications for custom and off-the-shelf lens and assemblies,

• Engage with the vendors to source the lens parts, MTF testing and stray light analysis,

• Match the sensor and lens for FOV optimization

• Partner with vendors to design and source protective cover glass designs

Image Characterization:

• Develop and execute rigorous testing protocols to characterize sensor performance and image quality in lab and real life use case scenarios (IQ).

• Define and execute tests in controlled lab environments to measure and analyze MTF, SNR, dynamic range, and color accuracy.

• Lead the integration of camera systems into test vehicles. You will perform real-world data collection, evaluating how vibration, motion blur, and varying lighting (tunnels, sunset, glare) affect system performance.

• Act as the "Imaging Detective" for customer projects. You will analyze field-returned data to identify, reproduce, and debug complex image quality (IQ) issues or software regressions.

Cross-Functional Calibration:

• Collaborate with software engineers to tune Auto-exposure, Auto-white balance algorithms and ensure the hardware-software handshake is seamless.

• Work closely with the firmware team to validate camera drivers performance, ensuring the software stack correctly interprets the hardware's output.

Required Qualifications:

• Deep understanding of lens design fundamentals, f-number, focal length, optical aberrations, Hands-on experience with image sensors, ISPs and Image tuning, 3A algorithms

• Expert with industrial and automotive CMOS image sensors, technologies and sensors vendors

• Good understanding of Sensor interfaces GMSL/MIPI/CSI,

• Proficiency in C, Mathlab, Python, Imatest or similar for data analysis and IQ evaluation.

• Ability to read schematics and use lab equipments IR meters, lux meters, light boxes

• Experience in automating image characterization process and ISP tuning

• MS or Phd in Science or Engineering with 8-10 years of experience in relevant space.