Hardware Applications Engineer (Optical)

Hardware Applications Engineer, Optical Location: Boston, MA | Hybrid, 3 Days OnsiteCompensation: $140,000 to $170,000 Total Compensation, Including Base Salary and EquityWe're partnering with a venture-backed computer vision company transforming quality control in manufacturing through scalable, AI-powered inspection systems. Its technology is deployed in high-speed production environments, helping manufacturers improve inspection accuracy, reduce defects, and automate manual processes.They're looking for a Hardware Applications Engineer specializing in optics and machine vision to design, configure, calibrate, and validate imaging systems for manufacturing applications. This individual will determine the right cameras, lenses, lighting, filters, and image-acquisition components for each customer environment.What You'll DoDesign machine vision imaging systems based on inspection requirements and production conditionsSelect and configure industrial cameras, lenses, lighting, optical filters, triggers, and image-acquisition hardwarePerform intrinsic and extrinsic camera calibration, distortion correction, alignment, color calibration, and multi-camera calibrationCalculate field of view, working distance, spatial resolution, depth of field, focal length, and exposure requirementsEvaluate line speed, motion, vibration, ambient light, reflective surfaces, and mounting constraintsDevelop imaging approaches for reflective, transparent, dark, textured, and rapidly moving materialsConduct optical feasibility studies and imaging testsConfigure triggering, synchronization, encoders, networking equipment, GPUs, and edge computing systemsTroubleshoot image quality, calibration, alignment, synchronization, and hardware-performance issuesCreate calibration procedures, bills of materials, configuration documents, and installation guidesParticipate in customer site assessments, installations, commissioning, and production validationWhat We're Looking For5+ years of experience in optics, machine vision, imaging engineering, or industrial systems integrationStrong knowledge of geometric optics, lenses, imaging sensors, lighting, optical filters, and image formationHands-on experience deploying and calibrating industrial cameras such as FLIR, Basler, Allied Vision, or TeledyneExperience with camera calibration, distortion correction, pixel-to-measurement calibration, and multi-camera alignmentAbility to translate inspection requirements into camera, lens, lighting, resolution, and exposure specificationsFamiliarity with GigE Vision, USB3 Vision, GenICam, or similar standardsExperience diagnosing imaging and hardware issues in manufacturing environmentsStrong written and verbal communication skillsWillingness to travel to customer manufacturing facilities as neededNice to HaveAutomated defect detection or quality-inspection experiencePhotometric stereo, structured lighting, telecentric lenses, polarized imaging, multispectral imaging, or 3D visionCamera integrations involving PLCs, encoders, sensors, triggers, robotics, or industrial networksOpenCV or similar image-processing and calibration toolsNVIDIA GPUs and edge computing systemsExperience supporting high-speed production linesWhy Join?Own complex optical and machine vision projectsWork with advanced AI inspection technologySolve challenging imaging problems in real-world manufacturing environmentsCompetitive compensation, equity, and benefitsJoin a rapidly growing, venture-backed technology company