Senior Image Scientist

Sr. Image Scientist

Department: Product Design Services 
FLSA Status: Exempt 
Reports to: PDS Operations Manager 
Pay Range: $93,000 - $125,000 annually 
Location: Rochester, NY (onsite) 

The Role: 

D3 Embedded is seeking an experienced and innovative Senior Image Scientist to join our engineering team. In this senior-level role, you will lead the end-to-end development, optimization, and validation of advanced imaging systems, with deep ownership of camera calibration, ISP tuning, algorithm development, and image quality analysis. The Senior Image Scientist plays a critical role in shaping imaging architecture, guiding technical strategy, and ensuring delivery of high-performance embedded imaging solutions. 

This position requires hands-on expertise with embedded camera platforms, including hardware bring-up, driver configuration, and real-time system verification. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional engineering teams and customers, providing technical leadership, influencing design decisions, and driving continuous improvement across products and processes. 

The Responsibilities 

• Lead all aspects of the imaging chain including sensor and camera calibration, optics, ISP tuning, algorithm development, analysis, verification and validation, and technical customer support.  
• Own development and optimization of embedded camera systems and ISPs running on real-time operating systems or Embedded Linux on custom electronics.  
• Provide senior-level technical execution for hardware bring-up, driver and application-level configuration testing, imaging system verification, and system-level debugging.  
• Oversee camera module calibration, characterization, unit testing, image quality evaluation, and troubleshooting across multiple product lines.  
• Serve as a technical authority, providing direction and leadership for complex engineering programs and acting as a key technical liaison with customer engineering teams and program managers.  
• Support and influence project planning efforts including task scoping, work estimation, and risk identification.  
• Develop and evaluate engineering plans, criteria, and best practices for major projects and guide implementation across the team.  
• Perform development and testing in an advanced electronics and imaging laboratory environment.  
• Work with embedded Linux platforms, open-source Linux, associated SDKs, and hardware development kits such as NVIDIA, TI, and Intel.  
• Lead the design and development of camera interface boards and related tools.  
• Identify, develop, and deploy tools, methodologies, and processes that improve analysis capabilities, design reuse, and overall engineering efficiency.  
• Provide technical oversight through design reviews, architecture evaluations, and quality assessments. Document and present results from analyses, experiments, and system-level evaluations to internal teams and customers.  
• Mentor and coach less experienced engineers, co-ops, and interns; promote a culture of technical excellence and knowledge sharing.  

Additional Responsibilities:

• Perform other duties as assigned.  

The Right Person Will Have:

• 5+ years of relevant industry experience in imaging systems, embedded vision, or related fields.  
• Bachelor of Science in Imaging Science, Computer Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline—or equivalent combination of education and experience.  
• Proven expertise in problem solving, debugging, and innovative technical thinking.  
• Strong ability to read schematics and troubleshoot digital hardware using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and related tools.  
• Experience writing embedded device drivers and debugging embedded platforms.  
• Solid understanding of embedded software/firmware development, including C and C++.  
• Advanced experience with Embedded Linux platforms, BSP configuration, kernel drivers, and device tree implementation.  
• Experience with GIT version control and GCC/GNU toolchains.  
• Demonstrated experience with embedded camera systems, video pipelines, and image processing (highly desirable).  
• A self-driven, proactive approach with the ability to influence system-level architectural decisions.  
• Strong technical leadership skills with the ability to guide teams and drive alignment across stakeholders.  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage with customers and present complex technical concepts clearly. 

The Benefits: 

• Competitive total compensation 
• Medical and dental coverage 
• Employer paid basic life, short-term disability, and identity theft coverage 
• Voluntary vision, life, long-term disability, accident, critical illness coverage 
• 401k retirement contribution 
• Paid holidays, time-off, and sick time 
• Tuition assistance and employer paid professional development 
• Flexible work schedules 
• Remote opportunities available 
• Complimentary snacks and beverages 
• Employer sponsored social events 

The Company: 

Since our founding in 1999, D3 Embedded has driven innovation in high-performance embedded systems development. We leverage our expertise in autonomous machines, sensors, imaging, optics, edge computing, algorithms, robotics, and electrification to provide cutting-edge engineering design and low-volume manufacturing services. Headquartered in Rochester NY, we serve a global network of customers and are proudly connected with many technology leaders and Fortune 500 companies. We are interested in bright, creative, and team-oriented individuals exhilarated by the opportunity to transform the world through frontier technologies. 

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.  D3 Embedded does not sponsor visas. For more information about D3 Embedded, please visit www.d3embedded.com. 

D3 Embedded is committed to fostering a diverse work environment and proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider and hire applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local law. 

D3 Embedded participates in E-Verify, a federal program that confirms employment eligibility upon hire.