Amazon

Description

Shape the future of imaging for millions of Ring cameras worldwide. As a System Development Engineer focused on ISP tuning and Image Quality, you will optimize the imaging pipeline—from raw sensor data to final output—to deliver consistent, high-quality images across diverse real-world conditions.

You’ll work at the intersection of camera hardware, ISP algorithms, and system validation, improving how users experience Ring devices every day. This role goes beyond parameter tuning—you’ll analyze complex image quality challenges, explore trade-offs in computational photography, and contribute to solutions that scale across products.

Why this role stands apart:

• Technical depth with team impact: Work on ISP tuning and validation that directly affects shipped products used by millions
• Innovation at scale: Your tuning work and validation contributions become part of the foundation for future products, multiplying your impact across generations of devices
• Leading technology stack: Work with modern ISP architectures and AI-enhanced imaging techniques, including emerging machine learning-based image processing approaches—technologies that are redefining what's possible in compact surveillance cameras
• Collaborative excellence: Join Ring's imaging center of excellence where camera architects, firmware engineers, and IQ specialists sit side-by-side, enabling rapid iteration and deep technical discussions

In our team, you're not isolated—you're surrounded by experts across optics, sensors, ISP, and AI who can sketch solutions on whiteboards within minutes. The role offers genuine technical contribution: you'll solve difficult image quality challenges, apply engineering best practices, and mentor others while working autonomously on the most challenging problems.

The technical challenge: Balance competing constraints—noise vs. sharpness, dynamic range vs. power consumption, real-time processing vs. quality—across diverse lighting conditions from bright daylight to near-total darkness. Develop systematic approaches that work not just in lab conditions but in millions of real-world installations.

If you're energized by technical depth, team impact, and seeing your work deployed at scale, this is your opportunity.

Key job responsibilities

As a System Development Engineer focused on Image Quality and tuning, you'll operate as a strong technical contributor driving execution:

Execute Technical Initiatives

• Perform ISP tuning for Ring camera products, optimizing parameters across imaging pipeline components (demosaicing, noise reduction, sharpening, tone mapping, color correction, exposure control, white balance)
• Troubleshoot difficult image quality issues, conducting root-cause analysis and developing data-driven solutions
• Work with guidance from senior engineers and management as needed

Develop Systematic Solutions

• Apply tuning methodologies that improve efficiency and consistency across products
• Contribute to automated validation frameworks—creating test protocols that catch edge cases and improve coverage for challenging scenarios
• Develop statistical analysis approaches for objective metrics (SNR, MTF, color accuracy, dynamic range) combined with subjective assessment protocols
• Explore and evaluate AI-based approaches to improve image quality and extend traditional ISP capabilities

Collaborate Cross-Functionally

• Partner with firmware engineers, camera architects, and manufacturing teams to optimize imaging system components—from sensor characteristics through ISP processing to final output
• Present technical findings and tuning progress to team members, translating technical details into clear updates
• Contribute to team discussions on technical approaches

Apply Engineering Best Practices

• Follow best practices for ISP parameter optimization that balance image quality with power, performance, and cost constraints
• Create documentation so your work benefits future products and team members
• Participate in technical reviews for team systems

Mentor and Develop

• Guide junior engineers in ISP tuning techniques, systematic problem-solving, and image quality assessment
• Share knowledge and contribute to team technical culture

Your background should demonstrate: experience with ISP algorithms and camera control (AE, AWB, AF), proficiency in Python/MATLAB for data analysis, understanding of objective and subjective IQ metrics, and proven ability to solve difficult technical problems autonomously while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

A day in the life

You're working on ISP tuning for a new Ring camera launching in six months. Morning starts analyzing overnight automated test results—the validation framework flagged unexpected color shifts in mixed lighting conditions that weren't caught by standard protocols.

You dive deep: pulling raw sensor data, examining ISP parameter interactions, running statistical analysis to isolate the root cause. It's a complex interplay between auto white balance and color correction matrices under specific CCT ranges. You design targeted experiments, optimize the parameters, and validate improvements through both objective metrics and subjective assessment.

Mid-morning, you join an architecture review with the camera team. A firmware engineer proposes changes to the noise reduction pipeline that could impact tuning work. You ask clarifying questions about the trade-offs, identify potential risks to edge-case performance, and contribute your perspective on maintaining IQ standards. Your analysis helps inform the team discussion.

After lunch, you notice that low-light validation coverage has gaps—certain real-world scenarios aren't adequately tested. You develop a new automated test suite that improves coverage for challenging lighting conditions, documenting the approach so it can be reviewed and potentially adopted for future products.

You spend time mentoring a junior engineer struggling with exposure control tuning, walking through a systematic approach: understanding the problem space, identifying key parameters, designing experiments, analyzing results, and iterating. You're helping build the team's capabilities.

Late afternoon brings a manufacturing call with your offshore partner. Yield data shows unexpected variation in one parameter. You contribute to the troubleshooting discussion, suggesting testable hypotheses and helping guide the team toward corrective actions that address root causes rather than symptoms.

You wrap up documenting your tuning work and preparing an update for the team on progress toward launch targets. Your work today moved the product forward, supported team capabilities, and contributed to approaches that will benefit the portfolio.

About the team

The Camera and Imaging Team in Amazon is Ring's center of excellence for imaging technology—where we define what makes Ring cameras capture exceptional imagery. Our 50+ person team spans Camera Architects, IR/WLED and ALS Designers, IQ TPMs, Image Quality Engineers, and IQ Firmware Engineers, with additional members in Cambridge.

What makes this team special:

• Deep expertise: Accumulated knowledge from junior to principal-level engineers covering the full imaging stack
• Collaborative environment: Experts sit together—sketch an idea, get immediate feedback from specialists in optics, sensors, ISP, or AI
• Strategic importance: Your work directly shapes the user experience for millions of Ring devices worldwide
• Growth trajectory: Expanding team with opportunities to develop your skills and increase your influence on Ring's imaging future

We balance hands-on technical work with strategic thinking, delivering today's products while contributing to tomorrow's innovations.

Basic Qualifications

• MSc, BSc, or equivalent in relevant technical field
• Strong understanding of ISP algorithms and image processing pipelines
• Experience with ISP tuning for camera systems (exposure control, white balance, color correction, noise reduction, sharpening)
• Working experience in image quality validation and testing methodologies
• Demonstrated ability to solve difficult technical problems at team level autonomously
• Strong analytical skills using Python or MATLAB for data analysis and visualization

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with automated image quality testing frameworks and tools
• Knowledge of camera control algorithms (AE, AWB, AF)
• Familiarity with industry-standard IQ test charts and measurement equipment (e.g., Imatest)
• Experience working with factory manufacturing and production validation
• Hardware validation and debugging experience
• Experience integrating AI-based approaches into traditional ISP pipelines is a plus

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

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