Camera Systems Engineer

Camera Systems EngineerEfference - Robust Robotic PerceptionLocation: San Francisco, CAEmployment Type: Full TimeLocation Type: On-siteDepartment: EngineeringWe are seeking an experienced Camera Systems Engineer focused on optical architecture, sensor integration, and low-level driver development for custom robotic perception modules. In this role, you will own the end-to-end visual pipeline—from optical component selection and hardware bring-up to the digital data stream—delivering highly reliable, low-latency machine vision for dynamic robotic platforms.RequirementsExperience with camera hardware, image sensors, and optical design.System-level understanding of the complete camera pipeline, from photon capture to memory transfer.Hands-on experience with sensor bring-up, I2C/SPI configuration, and writing MIPI CSI-2 drivers.Ability to write clean, maintainable low-level code (C/C++).Hands-on experience with optical testing and benchmarking using standard lab equipment (e.g., oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, integrating spheres, tunable light sources, and standardized test charts).Deep understanding of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles as they apply to optical assemblies, active alignment, and sensor packaging.ResponsibilitiesSelect lenses, optics, and image sensors tailored specifically for our edge compute and perception hardware.Lead the initial bring-up of new camera hardware, validating sensor capabilities and resolving low-level hardware/software bugs.Write and debug MIPI drivers and low-level sensor configurations to ensure perfect, minimal-jitter data transmission.Test and benchmark optical performance (e.g., MTF, distortion, stray light, SNR) across varied, real-world lighting conditions.Own the precision optical calibration processes for stereo and multi-camera arrays.Apply DFM practices to optical modules, collaborating closely with lens vendors and contract manufacturers (CMs) to ensure active alignment and assembly processes yield high reliability at scale.Collaborate with the electrical and mechanical teams to optimize hardware layouts for signal integrity, vibration resistance, and thermal stability.Nice to HaveBackground in computational photography or Image Signal Processing (ISP) pipeline tuning.