Hardware Applications Engineer (Optical)

Compensation: $140,000 to $170,000 Total Compensation, Including Base Salary and Equity We're partnering with a venture-backed computer vision company transforming quality control in manufacturing through scalable, AI-powered inspection systems. Its technology is deployed in high-speed production environments, helping manufacturers improve inspection accuracy, reduce defects, and automate manual processes. They're looking for a Hardware Applications Engineer specializing in optics and machine vision to design, configure, calibrate, and validate imaging systems for manufacturing applications. This individual will determine the right cameras, lenses, lighting, filters, and image-acquisition components for each customer environment.

What You'll Do: Design machine vision imaging systems based on inspection requirements and production conditions Select and configure industrial cameras, lenses, lighting, optical filters, triggers, and image-acquisition hardware Perform intrinsic and extrinsic camera calibration, distortion correction, alignment, color calibration, and multi-camera calibration Calculate field of view, working distance, spatial resolution, depth of field, focal length, and exposure requirements Evaluate line speed, motion, vibration, ambient light, reflective surfaces, and mounting constraints Develop imaging approaches for reflective, transparent, dark, textured, and rapidly moving materials Conduct optical feasibility studies and imaging tests Configure triggering, synchronization, encoders, networking equipment, GPUs, and edge computing systems Troubleshoot image quality, calibration, alignment, synchronization, and hardware-performance issues Create calibration procedures, bills of materials, configuration documents, and installation guides Participate in customer site assessments, installations, commissioning, and production validation What We're Looking For 5+ years of experience in optics, machine vision, imaging engineering, or industrial systems integration Strong knowledge of geometric optics, lenses, imaging sensors, lighting, optical filters, and image formation Hands-on experience deploying and calibrating industrial cameras such as FLIR, Basler, Allied Vision, or Teledyne Experience with camera calibration, distortion correction, pixel-to-measurement calibration, and multi-camera alignment Ability to translate inspection requirements into camera, lens, lighting, resolution, and exposure specifications Familiarity with GigE Vision, USB3 Vision, GenICam, or similar standards Experience diagnosing imaging and hardware issues in manufacturing environments Strong written and verbal communication skills Willingness to travel to customer manufacturing facilities as needed

Nice to Have: Automated defect detection or quality-inspection experience Photometric stereo, structured lighting, telecentric lenses, polarized imaging, multispectral imaging, or 3D vision Camera integrations involving PLCs, encoders, sensors, triggers, robotics, or industrial networks OpenCV or similar image-processing and calibration toolsNVIDIA GPUs and edge computing systems Experience supporting high-speed production lines Why Join? Own complex optical and machine vision projects Work with advanced AI inspection technology Solve challenging imaging problems in real-world manufacturing environments Competitive compensation, equity, and benefits Join a rapidly growing, venture-backed technology company