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Job Description
About Overlay
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.
Why This Role Is Different
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.
What You’ll Do
- 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
What We’re Looking For
- 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
Bonus Points
- 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
Benefits
- 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
The Team
- 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
Culture & Values
- Move Fast, Move Smart: Act quickly, but with clear thinking and good judgment.
- Extreme Ownership: Own outcomes fully from idea to execution to results.
- Disagree Boldly, Then Commit Fully: Challenge ideas openly, then align and execute without hesitation.
- Intellectual Honesty Above All: Prioritize truth over ego. Be candid, admit mistakes, and follow the evidence.
- Live Demos: Show real, working results instead of talking about ideas.
Compensation: The annual salary range for this position is $175,000–$250,000 annually based on level in addition to equity & benefits.