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Affective Computing Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Affective Computing information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Affective Computing Specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Affective Computing Specialist, you need a strong foundation in computer science, machine learning, psychology, and data analysis, often supported by advanced degrees in related fields. Familiarity with programming languages (such as Python or R), emotion recognition APIs, signal processing tools, and relevant certifications is common. Exceptional problem-solving, interdisciplinary collaboration, and communication skills set top professionals apart in this role. These skills and qualities are essential for accurately interpreting human emotions through technology and developing systems that effectively respond to users’ affective states.

How does an Affective Computing professional typically collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to integrate emotion recognition technologies into products?

Affective Computing professionals often work closely with interdisciplinary teams that include software engineers, UX designers, psychologists, and data scientists. Their main responsibility is to bridge the gap between emotional intelligence algorithms and practical applications, ensuring that emotion recognition features are both accurate and user-friendly. Collaboration involves frequent meetings to discuss user needs, data collection protocols, and ethical considerations, as well as iterative testing and refinement of models within the product development cycle. This teamwork fosters innovative solutions but also requires strong communication skills and adaptability to balance technical possibilities with user experience.

What is affective computing?

Affective computing is a field within computer science and artificial intelligence that focuses on developing systems and devices capable of detecting, interpreting, and responding to human emotions. It combines knowledge from psychology, cognitive science, and engineering to enable computers to recognize emotional cues such as facial expressions, voice tone, and physiological signals. The goal of affective computing is to create more natural and effective interactions between humans and machines, improving user experience in areas like healthcare, education, and customer service.

What is the difference between Affective Computing vs Human-Computer Interaction Specialist?

AspectAffective ComputingHuman-Computer Interaction Specialist
Required CredentialsComputer science, psychology, AI certificationsComputer science, design, psychology degrees
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, tech companies, AI startupsDesign firms, tech companies, research institutions
Industry UsageAI development, emotion recognition systemsUser experience design, interface development

While both roles involve understanding human behavior and technology, Affective Computing focuses on developing systems that recognize and respond to human emotions, often using AI and sensor data. Human-Computer Interaction Specialists design and improve user interfaces to enhance usability and user experience. The two fields overlap in understanding user needs but differ in their primary goals and technical focus.

What are popular job titles related to Affective Computing jobs in California? For Affective Computing jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in California are hiring for Affective Computing jobs? Cities in California with the most Affective Computing job openings:
Infographic showing various Affective Computing job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Part Time. Highlights an 40% Physical, and 60% Hybrid job distribution.

Senior Software Engineer (Infrastructure) at Tavus

Jack and Jill AI

San Jose, CA • On-site

$127.20K - $172.90K/yr

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago


Job description

This is a job that Jill, our AI Recruiter, is recruiting for on behalf of one of our customers.
She will pick the best candidates from Jack's network.
The next step is to speak to Jack.
Senior Software Engineer (Infrastructure)
Company Description: Tavus - Series B AI video platform backed by Sequoia and CRV
Job Description:
Join Tavus to build the infrastructure powering real-time conversational AI video. You will own and scale GPU deployments across multiple cloud providers while maintaining a robust AWS backbone. As a cross-functional driver, you'll bridge the gap between research and production, ensuring 100,000+ developers can deploy emotionally intelligent AI humans globally.
Why this role is remarkable:
  • Work at the bleeding edge of generative AI with a team featuring experts from NVIDIA and world-class research scientists in affective computing.
  • Scale complex GPU workloads for a platform that recently raised $40M in Series B funding led by CRV, with participation from Sequoia and Y Combinator.
  • Impact the entire engineering org by building elite developer experiences and defining how real-time video generation scales globally across 30+ languages.

What you will do:
  • Own and extend GPU infrastructure by partnering with specialized providers like CoreWeave, Cerebrium, and Baseten to ensure high availability for model deployments.
  • Architect and maintain a reliable AWS/EKS backbone, building repeatable processes and internal tooling that empower backend and research teams to ship faster.
  • Drive technical direction for infrastructure strategy, managing the transition of AI video generation from experimental novelty to mission-critical production systems.

The ideal candidate:
  • Proven experience managing GPU cloud infrastructure at scale, either within an AI-native startup or at a specialized GPU cloud provider.
  • Deep technical expertise in the AWS ecosystem and production Kubernetes (EKS), with a scrappy mindset for building simple, scalable, and automated systems.
  • Exceptional communication skills to translate complex infrastructure requirements into actionable plans for research scientists, backend engineers, and external partners.

Who are Jack & Jill?
Ok, I'll go first. I'm Jack, an AI Career Agent that gets to know you on a quick call, learning what you're great at and what you want from your career. Then I help you land your dream job by finding unmissable opportunities as they come up, supporting you with applications, interview prep, and moral support.
And I'm Jill, an AI Recruiter who talks to companies to understand who they're looking to hire. Then she recruits from Jack's network, making an introduction when she spots an excellent candidate.
Next steps
Step 1. Visit our website.
Step 2. Click 'Talk to Jack'.
Step 3. Talk to Jack so he can understand your experience and ambitions.
Step 4. Jack will make sure Jill (the AI agent working for the company) considers you for this role.
Step 5. If Jill thinks you're a great fit and her client wants to meet you, they will make the introduction.
Step 6. If not, Jack will find you excellent alternatives. All for free.
We never post fake jobs
This isn't a trick. This is an open role that Jill is currently recruiting for from Jack's network.
Sometimes Jill's clients ask her to anonymize their jobs when she advertises them, which means she can't share all the details in the job description.
We appreciate this can make them look a bit suspect, but there isn't much we can do about it.
Give Jack a spin! You could land this role. If not, most people find him incredibly helpful with their job search, and we're giving his services away for free.