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Vision Systems Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Qualcomm

Computer Vision Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$118K - $139K/yr

Qualcomm's Computer Vision Systems team is building the intelligence behind the world's most advanced Snapdragon-powered devices, from next-generation mobile phones to autonomous vehicles, IoT ...

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$14

$27

$42

How much do vision systems jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for vision systems in California is $27.13, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.11 and $31.54 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Vision Systems position, and why are they important?

To thrive in a Vision Systems role, you need a solid background in computer vision, image processing, and programming (often C++, Python, or MATLAB), typically supported by a degree in engineering, computer science, or a related field. Experience with machine vision hardware, deep learning frameworks (such as TensorFlow or PyTorch), and familiarity with industry standards like GigE or Camera Link is highly valued. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork set top candidates apart. These skills ensure you can develop, implement, and troubleshoot vision solutions that meet accuracy and reliability requirements in diverse industrial or research settings.

What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities of someone working in Vision Systems?

Professionals in Vision Systems typically spend their days designing, developing, and testing machine vision solutions to solve real-world problems, such as automated inspection or object detection. This often involves programming algorithms, calibrating cameras and sensors, and collaborating closely with engineers or production teams to integrate systems into larger processes. You may also analyze test data, troubleshoot performance issues, and continuously refine models for improved accuracy. The nature of the role means you’ll work in a mix of office and lab environments, and effective teamwork is crucial for meeting project goals.

What are popular job titles related to Vision Systems jobs in California? For Vision Systems jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Vision Systems jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Vision Systems jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Vision Systems jobs? Cities in California with the most Vision Systems job openings:
Vision Systems jobs near you
Infographic showing various Vision Systems job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 58% Full Time, and 42% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $56,437 per year, or $27.1 per hour.

Vision Systems Engineer

Exploration Technology Group

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

About etc.
etc, the Exploration Technology Corp, is a team of techno-optimists and explorers. We are motivated by the challenge of solving tough engineering problems, committed to creating sustainable change, and driven by a curiosity to explore and understand both our natural world and the universe.
For decades, the tools and technologies developed for spaceflight, defense, and exploration have not only helped us expand our understanding of the universe but have also supported human advancement here on Earth. We carry this legacy forward, knowing that innovation in these areas can lead to solutions that help people everywhere.
At etc, we are actively developing cutting-edge exploration and defense missions - including space-based IR sensing and interceptor systems. If you join the team, you will have the opportunity to work on hardware and software for US Department of Defense missions, NASA programs, and much more.
About the Role
We're hiring a hands-on Vision Systems Engineer to own the detection, tracking, and target discrimination software stack for a space-based IR sensing program supporting US national security missions. Your job is the vision algorithms: turning LWIR imagery into high-confidence track and guidance outputs in real time, on embedded space hardware, in demanding engagement environments.
What You'll Do
You will own the vision software stack that enables autonomous terminal guidance for a national security space mission. This means building and validating the full pipeline from detection through tracking, state estimation, and discrimination, running on embedded space hardware under hard real-time constraints.
  • Target Detection and Clutter Suppression: Design and implement adaptive detection algorithms against Earth-background and cold-space clutter, including background estimation, non-uniformity compensation, and track-before-detect approaches for high-velocity terminal engagement geometries.
  • Multi-Target Tracking and State Estimation: Design and implement multi-target tracking systems - track initiation, maintenance, correlation, and termination - using Kalman filters (EKF, UKF), IMM filters, and advanced data association methods (JPDA, MHT), generating the full terminal guidance output suite: LOS angles and rates (Az/El) for proportional navigation, target position and relative velocity, range and range rate, predicted intercept point, track confidence and lock flag, and discrimination confidence for GNC handoff.
  • Target Discrimination: Develop and train lightweight CNN classifiers for target vs. decoy discrimination using radiometric imagery, optimized for real-time embedded inference via quantization, pruning, or equivalent techniques, with full synthetic and real data pipelines for training and validation.
  • Simulation Integration and Validation: Integrate algorithms into an existing end-to-end IR scene simulation framework, develop thermal signature models for synthetic training data, conduct Monte Carlo analysis and hardware-in-the-loop validation, and own performance verification against program requirements.
  • Signal Chain & Electronics Integration: Define detector readout architectures, work with analog and digital electronics teams on ROIC interfaces, low-noise signal chains, and high-speed data paths to on-board processors
  • Image Processing & Embedded Algorithms: Develop real-time image processing pipelines - non-uniformity correction, bad pixel replacement, background suppression, track-before-detect - on embedded FPGA and GPU platforms
  • Performance Modeling & Test: Build end-to-end radiometric and noise models (NEDT, D*, SNR, clutter metrics), develop test plans, and execute lab and field characterization campaigns.

Qualifications
Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field. Advanced degree preferred for senior applicants.

Experience:
  • 5+ years of professional experience in IR sensor systems, electro-optical payloads, or space-based imaging, preferably in defense, missile defense, or national security space programs

Technical Skills:
  • Strong theoretical and practical experience with state estimation: Kalman filters (EKF, UKF), multi-target tracking concepts, and data association (JPDA, MHT, nearest neighbor)
  • Proficiency in algorithm development in MATLAB and/or Python with demonstrated experience transitioning to C++ for production deployment
  • Experience training and deploying CNNs or lightweight ML classifiers for real-time embedded inference
  • Experience with modeling, simulation, and testing workflows including Monte Carlo analysis, sensor data playback, or hardware-in-the-loop environments
  • Proficiency in radiometric modeling and performance analysis (NEDT, D*, MTF, SNR, background-limited performance)
  • Signal processing and algorithm development for detection and tracking (C/C++, Python, MATLAB)

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