ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Camera Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Meta

Camera Architect

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$173K/yr

As a Camera Architect you will define and own the end-to-end imaging architecture of camera subsystems -- single-camera or multi-camera -- for Meta's AR and VR product lines, serving photography ...

Paramount Recovery Service

Camera Car

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

We are seeking a highly motivated Camera Car Driver to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for locating vehicles and coordinating with Recovery Agents. Pay is hourly plus ...

Paramount Recovery Service

Camera Car

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$20/hr

We are seeking highly motivated Camera Car Driver to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for locating vehicles and coordinating with Recovery Agents. Pay is hourly plus ...

Paramount Recovery Service

Camera Car

Brentwood, CA · On-site

$20/hr

We are seeking a highly motivated Camera Car Driver to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for locating vehicles and coordinating with Recovery Agents. Pay is hourly plus ...

San Diego Gulls

Coaches Camera Operator

San Diego, CA · On-site

$19/hr

Coaches Camera Operator Pay Details: The starting hourly rate for this position is $19.00 per hour. Summary of Position This entry-level Hockey Operations position is responsible for filming all home ...

Paramount Recovery Service

Camera Car

Modesto, CA · On-site

$18 - $20/hr

We are seeking highly motivated Camera Car Driver to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for locating vehicles and coordinating with Recovery Agents. Pay is hourly plus ...

Qualcomm

Camera System Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$122K - $183K/yr

The Camera Systems team is responsible for the design, development, and integration of camera features across Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms. This role focuses on Essential Camera Features , including ...

Qualcomm

Camera Systems Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$137K - $143K/yr

As a Qualcomm Camera Engineer you will work on ideas that touch our daily life - creating everlasting connected memories and assist in building innovative devices through human and computer vision ...

Meta

Camera System Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$144K/yr

Meta's Reality Lab designs and manufactures camera, depth sensing, and illuminators for Meta's AR/VR and wearable devices. We own our modules end-to-end, from architecture and requirements through ...

Skild AI

Camera Systems Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$146K - $153K/yr

Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Camera Systems Software Engineer to own camera integration and enablement for real-time robotic systems built on NVIDIA Tegra platforms. This person ...

Skild AI

Camera Systems Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$100K - $300K/yr

Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Camera Systems Software Engineer to own camera integration and enablement for real-time robotic systems built on NVIDIA Tegra platforms. This person ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsCamera JobsCamera Jobs in California

Camera information

See California salary details

$13

$27

$61

How much do camera jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for camera in California is $27.80, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $30.14 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a camera operator do?

A camera operator is responsible for capturing visual content for television, film, or live events by operating cameras and related equipment. They work closely with directors and other crew members to achieve the desired shots and angles, ensuring the visual style matches the project's creative vision. Camera operators must have a good eye for detail, understand technical aspects of cameras, and be able to adapt to different shooting environments. Their work is crucial in bringing stories to life and creating compelling visual experiences.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a camera operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Camera Operator, you need a solid understanding of cinematography, camera equipment, and visual storytelling, often supported by a degree in film, broadcasting, or a related field. Familiarity with professional camera systems (such as RED, ARRI, or Sony), lighting setups, and editing software is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help camera operators collaborate effectively and capture compelling footage. These skills are crucial for producing high-quality visual content that meets creative and technical standards in film, television, or live production environments.

What are the typical challenges a camera operator faces when working on live events or broadcasts?

Camera Operators working on live events or broadcasts often face the challenge of capturing dynamic action in real time, requiring quick reflexes and a strong understanding of event flow. They must maintain steady shots and proper framing while adapting to unpredictable movements or changes in lighting. Collaboration with directors, producers, and other crew members is crucial to ensure seamless coverage, and operators must remain attentive and communicative throughout the production. Success in this role depends on technical proficiency, situational awareness, and effective teamwork.

What is the difference between Camera vs Photographer?

AspectCameraPhotographer
Required CredentialsNone, but technical knowledge helpsPhotography courses, portfolio
Work EnvironmentEquipment-focused, studio or outdoorVaried locations, client sites, studios
Industry UsageDevice used by photographersProfessionally captures images
Primary FocusCapturing imagesCreating artistic or commercial photographs

While a camera is a device used to capture images, a photographer is a person skilled in using a camera to produce photographs. The camera is a tool, whereas the photographer applies creativity, technical skills, and experience to create compelling images. Understanding this difference helps clarify roles in photography-related careers and job searches.

What jobs can I do with a camera?

A camera can be used in various jobs such as photographer, videographer, photojournalist, or content creator. These roles often require technical skills, knowledge of editing software, and the ability to work in different environments and schedules.

What jobs involve cameras?

Jobs that involve cameras include photographers, videographers, camera operators, and cinematographers. These roles require skills in operating cameras, understanding lighting and composition, and often using editing software. They work in various settings such as film, television, journalism, advertising, and event coverage.

What are the most commonly searched types of Camera jobs in California?

The most popular types of Camera jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Camera jobs in California?

For Camera jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Camera jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Camera jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Camera jobs?

Cities in California with the most Camera job openings:

Camera jobs near you
Infographic showing various Camera job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 10% Physical, and 90% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $57,816 per year, or $27.8 per hour.

Camera Architect

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

Meta
Internet and IT • 10K+ employees

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 45 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

138th of 247 rated software companies

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Recommended by students

Learn more about Metaexternal

$173K/yr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

As a Camera Architect you will define and own the end-to-end imaging architecture of camera subsystems — single-camera or multi-camera — for Meta's AR and VR product lines, serving photography, computer vision, and contextual-AI feature pipelines. Working alongside dedicated sensor, lens, and module design teams, you will drive the foundational HW trade-off decisions about how these elements come together into a coherent imaging solution — defining camera-level requirements, performance targets, and the system-level choices (focus/stabilization strategy, spatial layout, calibration approach, power budgets, imaging KPIs) that shape how individual components integrate to deliver product features. You will maintain a strong line-of-sight to the end-to-end imaging and AI-feature pipelines so that architecture decisions directly enable day-0 commitments for both capture quality and on-device intelligence.
Camera Architect Responsibilities:
  • Define and defend the camera subsystem architecture — whether a single camera or a multi-camera system — driving how sensors, lenses, actuators, and modules integrate into a coherent imaging solution. This includes focus strategy (fixed-focus vs. AF), image stabilization approach (OIS, EIS-friendly design, hybrid), camera placement geometry, and calibration methodology. The architecture must serve photography use cases
  • computer vision workloads and contextual-AI features
  • Distill a broad, often competing set of requirements — from product, system, software, and feature teams — into the smallest option space the team can realistically execute - finding the minimal camera system that satisfies the feature set while resisting HW complexity beyond what the features actually require
  • Drive sensor-level and imaging-performance trade studies (resolution, pixel size, sensitivity/SNR, dynamic range, frame rate, power, size, cost
  • fixed-focus depth-of-field vs. AF complexity
  • rolling vs. global shutter
  • Define the metrics and figures of merit that connect product features and user experiences to underlying camera HW performance. Establish quantitative linkage between feature KPIs (e.g., photo quality, video stabilization, ML model accuracy, tracking robustness, passthrough latency) and camera HW specs (MTF, SNR, dynamic range, frame sync, motion blur, FoV), and build the data-driven case for recommended camera selections and generational improvements
  • Translate product features across those workload classes into component- and module-level HW specifications — optical performance, module thermal envelope, power budget, data rates, interfaces, multi-camera synchronization/timestamping, and calibration tolerances that support factory-scale manufacturing
  • Partner with silicon architecture teams on ISP and sensor-companion-chip requirements, influencing HW/FW partitioning decisions that affect camera subsystem performance, power, and feature enablement (3A, actuator control, frame timing, AI pre-processing)
  • Communicate technical details, risks, and pathways to success across a product stack and with cross-functional teams
  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 10%

Minimum Qualifications:
  • MS or PhD in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline (or BS + equivalent depth of experience)
  • 8+ years in camera/imaging system architecture or design, with direct ownership of HW specification, trade-off analysis, and architecture decisions at the camera-system level
  • Experience architecting complete imaging systems from first-principles physics, optics, and sensor science — making defensible trade-offs and reasoning to the theoretical upper bound of what is achievable, even without deep specialization in any one component technology
  • Experience driving architecture-level trade-offs across image sensor technology (CMOS, BSI/stacked, global shutter, HDR) and camera module design (lens, AF/OIS actuator systems, packaging, active alignment) in partnership with specialist teams
  • Experience building the quantitative, data-driven case for camera architecture decisions — defining metrics and figures of merit that link camera HW performance to feature quality across photography, computer vision and AI/ML

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Working understanding of signal processing and computational photography principles — enough to identify where HW innovation hits diminishing returns and SW/algorithm optimization is more cost-effective
  • Experience modeling camera image quality end-to-end from hardware modules through ISP and S/W pipelines to analyze key performance indicators and inform architectural decisions based on trade-offs
  • Experience co-defining camera HW requirements with ISP, ML/AI and CV teams
  • Experience with product managers and industrial design teams in translating product vision into requirements through multiple product cycles
  • Track record of proactively shaping product roadmaps through technical foresight and analysis into actionable recommendations for leadership
  • Experience influencing key partners, internal and external, on roadmap and technology development

About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.
Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Meta participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Please note that Meta may leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in connection with applications for employment.
Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$173,000/year to $245,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.

What Meta employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply