Sr Research Manager Sight Innovation Lab

Join the leader in entertainment innovation and help us design the future. At Dolby, science meets art, and high tech means more than computer code. As a member of the Dolby team, you’ll see and hear the results of your work everywhere, from movie theaters to smartphones. We continue to revolutionize how people create, deliver, and enjoy entertainment worldwide. To do that, we need the absolute best talent. We’re big enough to give you all the resources you need, and small enough so you can make a real difference and earn recognition for your work. We offer a collegial culture, challenging projects, and excellent compensation and benefits, not to mention a Flex Work approach that is truly flexible to support where, when, and how you do your best work.

The Advanced Technology Group (ATG) is the research division of the company. ATG’s mission is to look ahead, deliver insights, and innovate technological solutions that will fuel Dolby’s continued growth. Our researchers have a broad range of expertise related to computer science and electrical engineering, such as AI/ML, algorithms, digital signal processing, audio engineering, image processing, computer vision, data science & analytics, distributed systems, cloud, edge & mobile computing, computer networking, and IoT.

You will play a pivotal role in Dolby Labs’ Advanced Technology Group (ATG), the research and technology arm of the organization. ATG drives innovation across multiple domains, including audio, video, AR/VR, and multimodal technologies applied to gaming, music, professional content, broadcast, and user-generated content.

ATG leverages expertise in diverse fields such as AI/ML, computer vision, image and video processing, ambisonics capture, digital signal processing, audio engineering, data science, distributed systems, cloud and mobile computing, NLP, knowledge management, social network analysis, computer graphics, signal compression, LLMs, IoT, and more. These areas underpin our research and inform our cutting-edge innovations.

What You’ll Do

As a technology leader within Dolby ATG Research, you’ll focus on three key areas:

Cutting-Edge, Hands-On Research

• Invent and develop next-generation AI-driven image and video processing technologies, with a particular focus on image/video capture solutions using emerging sensors, camera signal processing, and 3D spatial capture.

• Collaborate with Dolby’s world-class global research teams to define directions, identify projects, and drive the creation of groundbreaking image technologies that fuel Dolby’s licensing and cloud businesses.

• Combine traditional image processing techniques with advanced AI algorithms to address challenges in image delivery, analysis, and content creation.

Talent Development and Team Leadership

• Guide and mentor a team of researchers specializing in image processing, computer graphics, and content enhancement.

• Act as a coach and mentor to junior researchers, helping them grow into independent contributors within a corporate research environment.

• Foster a dynamic, transparent, results-driv, and innovative working culture.

Technology Strategy 

• Collaborate with ATG technology leaders to define and prioritize projects, aligning with Dolby’s strategic goals.

• Partner with upper management to allocate resources, manage staff assignments, and integrate research into global R&D initiatives.

• Work closely with Dolby’s Business Groups (BG) to translate research into real-world products, collaborating with product managers, program managers, and engineering teams worldwide.

Education and Desired Experience

• Ph.D. in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or Computer Science, plus 8+ years of corporate research experience.

• Profound expertise in image sensors, lenses, camera signal processing, spectral processing, 3D modeling, geometry, and calibration.

• Deep theoretical and practical understanding of state-of-the-art AI technologies, including knowledge of network architectures, deployment modes, data augmentation, and performance analysis.

• Experience with:

o Generative models (diffusion, autoregressive, etc.)

o Self-supervised learning, contrastive learning, and autoencoders

o Applications such as source separation, text-to-speech, music synthesis, image segmentation, and language models.

• Familiarity with gaming environments, SoC architectures, embedded systems, and GPU/CPU implementations.

• Proven ability to invent, patent, and productize novel image processing and rendering technologies.

• Strong publication record in leading conferences and journals (e.g., NeurIPS, ICLR, ICML).

• Expertise in C/C++ and Python.

Additional Skills and Attributes

• Demonstrated leadership in managing and mentoring researchers.

• Passion for cross-continental teamwork and collaboration.

• Strong communication, collaboration, and presentation skills in English.

• A forward-thinking innovator with the ability to envision and create impactful, commercially viable technologies.

The San Francisco/Bay Area base salary range for this full-time position is $206,100-$283,500, which can vary if outside this location, plus bonus, benefits, and some roles may also include equity. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, competencies, experience, market demands, internal parity, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range and perks and benefits for your location during the hiring process.

Dolby will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of San Francisco Police Code, Article 49, and Administrative Code, Article 12

Equal Employment Opportunity:
Dolby is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our success depends on the combined skills and talents of all our employees. We are committed to making employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, marital status, family status, medical condition, disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.