Camera Engineer

About Helsing

Helsing is a defence AI company dedicated to safeguarding democracies by pioneering technology leadership that enables sovereign decision-making and ethical control. We emphasize responsible AI development and deployment, valuing open, transparent culture and thoughtful debate regarding ethical impacts of technology in defence.

Role Overview

As a Camera Engineer at Helsing, you will own the entire imaging stack responsible for capturing high-quality sensor data under real-world constraints. Your role involves designing hardware architecture that translates mission needs into concrete specifications spanning lenses, sensors, and data pipelines. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including optical physics, electrical engineering, and computer vision to move designs from prototype stages through to operational deployment. This position focuses on practical system implementation rather than research.

Key Responsibilities

• Design imaging system architecture by selecting appropriate lens and sensor pairings, balancing optical performance with AI algorithm requirements.
• Develop low-level FPGA firmware to manage fast sensor interfaces and hardware synchronization.
• Oversee the manufacturing lifecycle from prototype to production stage by coordinating with external partners, specifying validation tests, and solving integration issues in complex opto-electronic assemblies.
• Lead hardware bring-up, perform debugging, test performance across varied conditions, and ensure smooth integration with the software stack.
• Evaluate and optimize image quality relative to application needs by analyzing camera performance and tuning algorithms and designs to maximize sensor utility for AI pipelines.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Ph.D. or M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Applied Physics, Optical Engineering, or similar fields; or equivalent hands-on professional experience.
• Proven experience with transitioning complex opto-electronic systems from prototyping to final production.
• Solid understanding of opto-mechanical design issues including thermal management and precision mounting for optical alignment.
• Strong background in imaging physics involving lens selection, MTF characteristics, CMOS sensor details, quantum efficiency, and noise factors.
• Experience with system-level synchronization techniques like PTP, PPS, and hardware triggers (Hsync, Vsync) for aligning image capture with other sensors and compute modules.
• Expertise in low-level firmware development or debugging involving C/C++ or Rust.

Preferred Skills

• Experience developing FPGA firmware with languages and tools such as Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL, particularly for high-bandwidth data streams and sensor interfaces.
• Hands-on PCB design and troubleshooting of high-bandwidth image sensors and knowledge of signal integrity protocols (MIPI CSI-2, LVDS, SLVS-EC, etc.).
• Familiarity with optical design software like Zemax or Code V for ray tracing, lens curvature, and custom glass specifications.
• Experience with writing Linux kernel drivers or working with frameworks like V4L2 to interface with image sensors.
• Understanding of downstream AI pipelines and how captured images are utilized in computer vision algorithms.
• Experience designing, calibrating, and programming long-wave infrared (LWIR) cameras.

Why Join Helsing?

• Contribute directly to protecting democratic nations while carefully balancing ethical and geopolitical considerations.
• Work on exceptional technical challenges with unique domain-specific constraints where robustness, safety, and ethics are paramount.
• Engage with cutting-edge advancements in reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, and AI deployment infrastructures in a defence context.
• Partake in ambitious projects driving order-of-magnitude technological improvements and novel capabilities.
• Be part of a company with multiple significant government contracts and a culture promoting open, diverse discussions, responsible autonomy, and ownership of work and cultural aspects.

Employee Benefits

• Competitive compensation package including salary and Virtual Stock Option Plan (VSOP) options.
• Relocation assistance up to €2,500 plus four weeks of temporary accommodation.
• Annual learning allowance of €500 (£450) to support ongoing development.
• Health and wellness benefits including gym memberships and mental health resources (Nilo.health).
• Regular company social events and monthly social allowances.
• Generous parental leave policies: 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers and 6 weeks for secondary caregivers.
• Family support including 5 days paid family emergency leave, remote work possibilities during pregnancy, and phased return-to-work options.
• Comprehensive onboarding program with hands-on projects to quickly integrate into company technology and workflows.

Equal Opportunities

Helsing is dedicated to promoting equality and diversity in employment regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or gender identity. Candidates are encouraged to apply even if they don’t meet every qualification, reflecting a commitment to ability and impact beyond listed requirements.

Additional Information

Note: The role is remote with full-time employment status based in Berlin, Germany. The company emphasizes ethical considerations and responsible technology application in defence.