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Image Processing Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Camera Image Processing Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

As an Image Processing Engineer, you will help to take raw data off our camera sensors, and clean up the image, giving our industrial design teams more freedom when designing our hardware, confident ...

Apple

Camera Image Processing Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$150K - $277K/yr

As an Image Processing Engineer, you will help to take raw data off our camera sensors, and clean up the image, giving our industrial design teams more freedom when designing our hardware, confident ...

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How much do image processing engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for image processing engineer in California is $61.76, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51.25 and $65.96 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an image processing engineer do?

An Image Processing Engineer designs, develops, and implements algorithms and systems to analyze, enhance, and manipulate digital images. They work on tasks such as image filtering, feature extraction, pattern recognition, and computer vision applications. Their work is used in a variety of fields including medical imaging, robotics, surveillance, and multimedia. They often use programming languages like Python or C++ and tools like OpenCV or MATLAB to solve complex image-related problems.

What does an image processing engineer do?

An image processing engineer assists with the entire life cycle of data classification algorithms and image processing for a company. Your responsibilities in this career are to analyze data, write reports, develop methods for feature extraction and classification, research basic to advanced image processing algorithms, give presentations, and create visual interpretations of data. Your duties also include working on target detection and tracking, video georeferencing, implementing an image processing system, enhancing new software, and enabling immersive augmented and virtual reality experiences. You also develop algorithms for real 3D images and accurate wireless tracking.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an image processing engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Image Processing Engineer, you need a strong background in mathematics, computer vision, and programming (often with a degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field). Familiarity with tools and libraries such as OpenCV, MATLAB, Python, and machine learning frameworks is typically expected, along with experience in image analysis algorithms. Strong problem-solving, analytical thinking, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and interpret complex results. These skills are crucial for developing robust image processing solutions that meet technical requirements and drive innovation in fields like healthcare, automotive, and security.

What are some common challenges image processing engineers face when working on cross-functional teams?

Image Processing Engineers often collaborate with data scientists, software developers, and hardware engineers, which can present challenges in aligning technical requirements and timelines. One frequent hurdle is ensuring that image processing algorithms integrate seamlessly with broader system architectures, especially when resources or real-time performance constraints are involved. Clear communication and adaptability are key, as team members may have differing levels of understanding of image processing concepts. Building strong collaborative relationships and regularly sharing progress can help overcome these challenges and ensure project success.

What is the difference between Image Processing Engineer vs Computer Vision Engineer?

AspectImage Processing EngineerComputer Vision Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related fields; knowledge of image processing algorithmsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related fields; expertise in computer vision techniques
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, tech companies, imaging hardware firmsTech companies, autonomous vehicles, robotics, AI firms
Industry UsageFocus on image enhancement, filtering, and analysisFocus on object detection, scene understanding, and AI integration

While both roles involve working with visual data, Image Processing Engineers primarily focus on improving and analyzing images through algorithms, whereas Computer Vision Engineers develop systems that interpret and understand visual information for applications like autonomous vehicles and AI. The roles often overlap but differ in their core objectives and application areas.

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Image Processing Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Image Processing Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 5% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,466 per year, or $61.8 per hour.

Camera Image Processing Engineer

Cupertino, CA • On-site

Apple
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing • 10K+ employees

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 678 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Recommended by students

Learn more about Appleexternal

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

iPhone is the most popular camera in the world, with billions of photos taken every year. The seamless integration of software and hardware has led to camera features like the Photonic Engine, Portrait mode, and Super-high-resolution photos which deliver magical experiences that surprise and delight our customers!
The Camera Technologies & Systems team in the Camera & Photos org delivers amazing quality photos and videos by combining state of the art computer vision, image processing, and machine learning. As an Image Processing Engineer, you will help to take raw data off our camera sensors, and clean up the image, giving our industrial design teams more freedom when designing our hardware, confident that your work will still give a high quality image in the end.
Description
We are looking for candidates with some basic image processing experience, and some familiarity with writing code on GPUs. In this role you will help to analyze raw sensor data, identify issues, and propose algorithms to handle any problems. You can be called upon to fix problems arising from sensors, optics or control systems (such as auto focus and optical image stabilization). As such we do not expect you to be an expert on these things - there are too many to know them all! But we are looking for candidates with a demonstrated capability for creative thinking and quick learning. We increasingly use GenAI tools to help accelerate coding, but every change goes through a human review layer, so strong engineering judgment matters as much as raw output. Our team also designs traditional ML algorithms that run directly on the Apple Neural Engine (ANE).
Minimum Qualifications
Strong programming skills, particularly on Apple platforms - notably Swift, Metal, and Objective-C.
Some experience with image processing algorithms implemented on GPUs.
Graphics programming experience - comfortable working directly with pixels.
Exposure to machine learning, particularly as applied to image processing.
M.S. or Ph.D. in Imaging, Color, Vision, Computer, Optics Science, EE, or equivalent with 3+ years of experience in a related field.
Preferred Qualifications
An understanding of photography and what makes an image look good or bad. Photography in challenging conditions, such as low-light or high movement is particularly useful.
Experience with an existing camera image processing pipeline.
Strong experience with optimizing GPU workloads to run efficiently.
Experience with performance-oriented, high-throughput compute.
A demonstrated track record of algorithm development - solving novel problems rather than applying known recipes.
Experience designing or deploying traditional ML algorithms that run on the Apple Neural Engine (ANE).
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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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