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Vision Science Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Vision Science information

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$24.2K

$47.8K

$78K

How much do vision science jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for vision science in California is $47,757.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,000.00 and $51,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Vision Scientist, you need a strong background in biology, optics, neuroscience, and experimental design, typically supported by a PhD or advanced degree in vision science or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, statistical analysis software (such as MATLAB or Python), and imaging systems is essential. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills enable successful research and collaboration. These competencies are crucial for advancing knowledge in visual perception and developing applications in healthcare and technology.

What is the difference between Vision Science vs Optometrist?

AspectVision ScienceOptometrist
Required CredentialsTypically requires a master's or PhD in vision science or related fieldRequires Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree and licensure
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, industry settingsPrivate practices, clinics, healthcare facilities
Industry UsageResearch, product development, academiaPatient eye care, vision testing, prescribing corrective lenses

Vision Science and Optometrists both focus on eye health and vision, but differ in their roles. Vision Science primarily involves research and development in vision-related fields, requiring advanced degrees and working in academic or industry settings. Optometrists, on the other hand, are healthcare professionals providing direct patient care, requiring a Doctor of Optometry degree and licensure. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and job expectations in the eye care industry.

What is vision science?

Vision science is an interdisciplinary field that studies how visual systems process information. It encompasses research on the anatomy, physiology, and functioning of the eyes and brain, as well as optical, computational, and psychological aspects of vision. Vision scientists work to understand how we perceive visual information, how visual disorders arise, and how technology can enhance or restore vision. Careers in vision science may involve research, clinical practice, or developing new diagnostic and corrective tools.

What does a vision scientist do?

A vision scientist researches how the visual system processes information, studying aspects like visual perception, eye function, and neural mechanisms. They often work in laboratories or academic settings, using tools such as eye trackers and imaging technology, and may conduct experiments or develop models to understand vision-related phenomena.

What can you do with a Vision Science degree?

A Vision Science degree prepares individuals for careers in eye care, research, and vision technology. Graduates can work as optometrists, vision researchers, ophthalmic technicians, or in roles involving visual perception and eye health, often requiring clinical skills and knowledge of optics and anatomy.

What job makes $10,000 a month without a degree?

In vision science, most roles require at least a degree, but some related jobs like optical sales managers or high-end opticians can earn around $10,000 monthly with experience and strong sales skills. These positions often involve managing teams, business development, or working in luxury optical settings, and may require certifications or specialized training rather than a formal degree.

What can I do with a master's in Vision Science?

A master's in Vision Science prepares individuals for roles such as vision researcher, optometric technician, or vision scientist in clinical, research, or industry settings. Graduates often work in eye care clinics, research laboratories, or product development, utilizing skills in optics, visual perception, and data analysis. Additional certifications or advanced degrees may be required for certain clinical positions.

What are some typical collaborative projects a Vision Science professional might work on with other departments?

Vision Science professionals frequently collaborate with teams in ophthalmology, neurology, psychology, and engineering, depending on the setting. For example, they may work closely with ophthalmologists to develop and test new diagnostic tools, partner with engineers to refine visual aids or imaging technologies, or collaborate with psychologists to study visual perception and cognition. These interdisciplinary projects help broaden the impact of their research and often lead to innovative solutions in visual health and technology.
What are popular job titles related to Vision Science jobs in California? For Vision Science jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Vision Science jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Vision Science jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Vision Science jobs? Cities in California with the most Vision Science job openings:
Vision Science jobs near you
Senior Machine Learning Engineer - VETi Platform

Senior Machine Learning Engineer - VETi Platform

Kodiak Sciences Inc

Palo Alto, CA

$144K - $190K/yr

Other

Posted 21 days ago

Job description

Description
Kodiak Sciences (Nasdaq: KOD) is advancing vision science by integrating retinal biology, optics, artificial intelligence, medical imaging, and next-generation wearable technologies.
Our VETi™ - Visual Engagement Technology and Imager - platform is an AI-enabled wearable system combining advanced LiDAR, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), embedded computing, machine learning, and AR/VR technologies. VETi is being developed for applications in retina care, digital health, identity security, cognitive science, and broader AI-enabled vision technologies.
We are looking for a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to build the AI foundation for Kodiak's VETi platform, from model research and training to deployment on embedded medical imaging hardware. This role is well suited for an engineer with strong machine learning and software fundamentals who enjoys complex computer vision problems and is excited to ship AI that runs on real wearable devices.
Responsibilities
  • Lead the design, training, and deployment of machine learning models for wearable imaging and sensing systems - from research prototypes through production.
  • Develop computer vision models for image processing and analysis across multiple imaging modalities and sensors.
  • Analyze medical imaging data with deep learning models to support diagnostics and clinical decision-making.
  • Build training pipelines, data labeling workflows, and evaluation frameworks that scale across imaging datasets.
  • Integrate and optimize AI inference into the VETi platform's real-time imaging and device-control stack, deploying to NPUs, GPUs, and embedded accelerators within latency, power, and memory budgets.
  • Debug model accuracy and performance across training, evaluation, and on-device environments.
  • Collaborate with electrical, optics, clinical, software, and systems engineering teams.
Education / Required Qualifications
  • B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in AI, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 5+ years of professional machine learning experience developing and deploying production models.
  • Strong programming experience in Python and C++, with at least one major ML framework (PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX) and solid software engineering practices.
  • Strong deep learning experience, particularly in computer vision (CNNs, transformers, segmentation, detection, classification).
  • Experience deploying models to edge devices, including model optimization (quantization, pruning, distillation) and inference runtimes (ONNX, TensorRT, or similar).
  • Ability to collaborate across machine learning, software, hardware, scientific, and engineering teams.
Additional Experience That Would Be Valuable
  • Experience with medical imaging data (OCT, fundus, retinal scans, MRI, CT, or similar).
  • Experience working with 3D or volumetric imaging data (e.g., OCT B-scans, volumetric MRI/CT).
  • Experience building AI agents for user interaction or human-in-the-loop systems.
  • Experience with self-supervised learning, transfer learning, or other data-efficient methods for limited labeled data.
  • Familiarity with regulated medical-device AI development (FDA SaMD, IEC 62304, ISO 13485), or willingness to learn.

Why Join Kodiak
This role is an opportunity to build AI for real-world physical systems-optics, sensors, and embedded computing-running on actual devices, not just in the cloud. You will work at the intersection of software, hardware, medical imaging, optics, AR/VR, LiDAR, OCT, and AI. The platform is novel, the technical challenges are significant, and the work has the potential to shape a new class of wearable vision technologies.

Apply