Image Quality Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

About Us:

How many companies can say they have been in business for over 178 years?!

Here at ZEISS, we certainly can! As the pioneers of science, ZEISS handles the ever-changing environments in a fast-paced world, meeting it with cutting edge technologies and continuous advancements. ZEISS believes that innovation and technology are the key to a sustainable future and solutions for global change. We have a diverse range of portfolios throughout the ZEISS family in segments like Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. We are a global company with over 42,000 employees and have over 4,000 in the US and Canada alone! Make a difference, come join the team!

What's the role?

The Senior IQ Engineer is the technical owner for image quality across ZEISS X-ray Microscopy products. This role partners with crossfunctional R&D teams, Applications, Production/Manufacturing Engineering, and Technical Support to (1) quantify imaging performance, (2) develop, validate, and maintain test protocols, (3) design/evaluate/implement calibrations, image processing, and reconstruction algorithms that improve resolution, contrast, throughput, and robustness for both new and fielded products, and (4) validate performance and functionality of new software products. The role also provides tier3 technical leadership on IQ escalations, trains engineers on CT concepts, and drives best practices for scan optimization.

Sound Interesting?

Here's what you'll do:

1) Imaging Performance & Metrics

• Define and own system level IQ metrics and acceptance criteria (e.g., resolution/MTF, contrast, uniformity, artifact levels, reconstruction time/throughput, and defect detectability for representative samples).

• Design and execute repeatable IQ test protocols and golden sample workflows for engineering builds, production release, and sustaining; publish dashboards and control charts.

• Build analysis pipelines (Python/Matlab) to compute MTF, SNR/CNR, and other modality appropriate figures of merit.

2) Algorithm, Calibration & Reconstruction

• Develop/evaluate calibration (e.g., gain/offset/dark current, reference correction, geometric calibration, ring reduction), preprocessing (beam hardening correction, scatter mitigation), and reconstruction (FBP; iterative/SART/SIRT/TV/CS; artifact suppression) methods; partner with software teams to productize.

• Prototype algorithms on representative datasets; create validation plans and datasets; quantify improvements vs. baselines.

• Contribute to scan optimization playbooks (exposure, energy filtration, geometric magnification, trajectories, limited angle strategies) for target use cases.

3) NPI & Sustaining / Escalation Leadership

• Serve as the IQ lead for NPI programs: define IQ requirements, author verification/validation plans, analyze results, and drive derisking experiments at key gates.

• Lead root cause investigations for field and production IQ issues (e.g., beam hardening, cone angle / limited angle artifacts, photon starvation, motion, detector nonuniformity), define corrective actions, and close the loop with production and service.

• Provide tier3 support for image quality escalations and coordinate multidisciplinary 8D investigations as needed.

4) Cross Functional Enablement & Training

• Create and deliver training on CT theory and practical scanning for engineers and applications specialists; mentor peers in artifact recognition and mitigation.

• Define best practices and SOPs for IQ checks in manufacturing and service; partner with QA/ME to embed checks into line/test stations.

5) Documentation, Quality & Compliance

• Author and maintain protocols, work instructions, calibration procedures, and release notes; ensure traceability from requirements to verification results.

• Support risk analysis (e.g., FMEA) and contribute to design history and change control (ECR/ECO) packages.

• Adhere to radiation safety, lab safety, and applicable regulatory standards.

Do you qualify?

• Field of education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics or other relevant technical degree with 3-7 years of experience, or Master's degree with 2-5 years of experience, or Ph.D. with 1-5 years of relevant experience. Degree and experience should be within field of X-ray, CT, microscopy, or medical imaging.

• Understands a wide range of Internal and 3rd party reconstruction, image processing, and 3D visualization software

• Experience with X-ray or CT technology strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to generate and maintain engineering documentation in high levels of technical detail desired.

The annual pay range for this position is $140,000 - $175,000

The pay offered for this role may be influenced by factors such as job location, scope of role, qualifications, education, experience, & complexity/specialization/scarcity of talent.

We have amazing benefits to support you as an employee at ZEISS!

• Medical

• Vision

• Dental

• 401k Matching

• Employee Assistance Programs

• Vacation and sick pay

• The list goes on!

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:

Zeiss provides Equal Employment Opportunity without unlawful regard to an Applicants race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, citizen status, sexual orientation, pregnancy (includes childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition), genetic predisposition, carrier status, gender expression or identity, including transgender identity, or any other class or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law of the employee (or the people with whom the employee associates, including relatives and friends).