Lead Computer Vision / Perception Engineer

Overlay is building the world’s first intelligent makeup robot—reimagining beauty application through robotics, perception, and design. As a venture-backed, pre-launch startup, we’re defining a new category of personal robotics at the intersection of self-expression and engineering. Our system operates directly on the human face, requiring an unprecedented level of precision, safety, and real-world robustness.

We’re a small, highly technical team working in person in Oakland—building something that does not yet exist, and making it real.

This is not a traditional execution-focused computer vision role. You will help define how perception works for a completely new class of consumer robot.

This means:

• Identifying the hardest problems before they are obvious
• Making judgment calls on what matters vs. what doesn’t
• Driving research, prototyping, and production—not just one layer
• Owning perception end-to-end in a real, physical system

You will play a critical role in shaping both the product and the company’s technical direction.

• Work closely with the Head of Robotics to build the the perception stack end-to-end
• Transition early-stage prototypes into reliable, production-ready consumer products by collaborating with external fabrication houses, contract manufacturers, and industrial design partners
• Define and prioritize perception problems that are critical to product success
• Design and build real-time vision systems for precise interaction with the human face
• Develop and optimize pipelines for 3D reconstruction, tracking, and spatial understanding
• Make architectural decisions that scale from prototype to production hardware
• Integrate perception with robotics and motion control systems (ROS2, real-time systems)
• Build data pipelines, evaluation frameworks, and validation systems
• Collaborate with hardware, mechanical, and design teams to deliver production systems
• Understand and help guide the long-term perception direction and contribute to the overall product roadmap

• 5 years solving applied computer vision problems in real-world systems (robotics, embedded, or similar)
• Strong foundation in modern CV/ML (OpenCV, PyTorch / TensorFlow / JAX)
• Proficient in Python and C with production-quality engineering standards
• Demonstrated ownership of complex systems or projects end-to-end
• Track record of identifying and solving high-impact problems independently
• Strong engineering judgment — able to make practical tradeoffs under constraints
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and making decisions with incomplete information
• Experience translating research or prototypes into reliable production systems
• Clear communicator who can work effectively across disciplines

• Experience with ROS2 and motion planning (MoveIt2, Nav2, OMPL)
• Background in real-time systems, embedded Linux, or hardware integration
• Experience shipping robotics or hardware products to real users
• Hands-on prototyping experience (3D printing, machining, etc.)
• Strong opinions on perception systems—and the ability to defend them

• Highly competitive salary & generous early-stage equity
• Best-in-class medical, dental & vision insurance
• 401(k) matching program
• Flexible Time Off with 10 paid holidays
• Commuter benefits
• Office in downtown Oakland near 19th Street BART station

• Small, fast-moving team with high ownership and low process
• Strong bias toward shipping, learning, and iterating quickly
• In-person collaboration in our Oakland office
  

1. Move Fast, Move Smart: Act quickly, but with clear thinking and good judgment.
2. Extreme Ownership: Own outcomes fully from idea to execution to results.
3. Disagree Boldly, Then Commit Fully: Challenge ideas openly, then align and execute without hesitation.
4. Intellectual Honesty Above All: Prioritize truth over ego. Be candid, admit mistakes, and follow the evidence.
5. Live Demos: Show real, working results instead of talking about ideas.