Sr. Research Engineer – AI/ML Image Processing & Computational Photography

Department Overview  

At the Sony Corporation of America US R&D Laboratory, we transform bold ideas into extraordinary realities. Our engineers and scientists push boundaries through creativity and innovation to investigate emerging ideas, build prototypes, and advance solutions that reflect Sony’s high standards for quality, performance, and design. Through this work we strive to evoke Kando—the profound sense of excitement and satisfaction that comes from encountering something truly exceptional.  

Position Summary 

Sony Corporation of America currently has an opening for a Senior Research Engineer in our U.S. R&D Laboratory located in San Jose, CA, Culver City, CA, or as a remote employee. This position is responsible for researching and developing novel AI/ML-based image processing, computational photography, and computer vision algorithms for Sony’s next-generation imaging products.  

In this role, you will apply advanced engineering and mathematical principles to develop core technologies that power Sony's digital imaging products. You will tackle problems of diverse scope, exercising strong judgment in selecting methods and techniques to reach solutions. You will take concepts from initial research through product integration, collaborating with product development and engineering teams to uphold the high standards that define Sony’s imaging technologies.  

Responsibilities: 

• Research, design, and develop novel AI/ML methods for image processing, computational photography, and computer vision applications that advance Sony’s portfolio of digital imaging products 

• Formulate research problems and apply sound experimental design across dataset creation, neural network architecture development, model training and evaluation 

• Conduct feasibility studies and rapidly prototype ideas to validate new concepts and assess their potential for commercialization 

• Benchmark algorithm performance against state-of-the-art methods and iteratively improve accuracy, efficiency, and robustness 

• Conduct literature reviews, attend academic and industry conferences, and report on emerging trends to identify promising areas for technology development 

• Document methodology, experimental results, and technical designs throughout all phases of research and development. Regularly communicate findings to researchers and engineers in the US and Japan. 

• Draft invention disclosures and collaborate with patent attorneys to secure intellectual property 

• Draft and submit professional articles for technical journals as required 

• Occasional travel to Japan to conduct in-person meetings 

Qualifications: 

• PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or related field. Exceptional candidates with an MS and 3+ years of related experience may be considered 

• Strong fundamentals and practical experience developing deep learning, machine learning, and/or AI algorithms from the ground up, including problem formulation, dataset design, architecture development, training, and evaluation 

• Strong fundamentals in signal processing and statistical modeling is a plus 

• Demonstrated experience in at least one of the following: image and/or video processing, camera ISP, computational photography, low-level computer vision, or computer vision 

• Exceptional research skills, including a track record of peer-reviewed publications, and the ability to critically evaluate the latest published works 

• A rigorous approach to experimental design and hypothesis testing 

• Ability to rapidly prototype new ideas to assess their technical merit 

• Proficient in Python and PyTorch, or a similar ML framework. Familiarity with C/C++ and Linux 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills  

• Curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to tackle challenging problems