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World Labs

Research Engineer / Scientist (3D Tech Lead)

World Labs
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onsite senior full-time $250,000 - $350,000 San Francisco

First indexed 17 Apr 2026

Description

We're looking for a Tech Lead for 3D Modeling & Reconstruction to set technical direction and drive execution for our core 3D modeling efforts. This role is ideal for someone with a strong research science (RS) or research engineering (RE) background who has made meaningful contributions to the field of 3D reconstruction and/or modeling,through academic publications, widely used open-source projects, or production systems deployed at scale.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You'll combine deep technical expertise with the ability to guide a high-impact team, shaping both the research roadmap and the production systems that bring modern 3D modeling methods into real-world products. You'll work closely with research, engineering, and product partners to translate cutting-edge ideas into reliable, scalable capabilities.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Setting the technical vision and roadmap for 3D modeling and reconstruction, balancing research exploration with product-driven milestones.
  • Leading the design and implementation of state-of-the-art 3D modeling systems, spanning geometry, appearance, and scene-level representations.
  • Driving innovation in modern 3D modeling approaches, including learning-based and optimization-based methods, with an eye toward robustness, scalability, and real-world data.
  • Guiding architectural decisions around 3D representations, training pipelines, and inference systems, ensuring they integrate cleanly with broader 3D data and rendering platforms.
  • Leading and mentoring a small team of research scientists and/or research engineers: providing technical guidance, setting high standards, and fostering a culture of rigor and ownership.
  • Owning end-to-end execution of key initiatives, from early research prototypes through production deployment and iteration.
  • Collaborating closely with cross-functional partners to align 3D modeling capabilities with product needs, timelines, and quality bars.
  • Representing the team and its work internally and externally, including contributing to publications, technical talks, or open-source efforts where appropriate.
  • Continuously evaluating emerging research and industry trends in 3D modeling and reconstruction, and translating the most promising ideas into actionable plans.

-note: This job requires 8+ years of experience in 3D reconstruction, 3D modeling, computer vision, graphics, or closely related fields. A strong track record of impactful contributions to the field, demonstrated through academic publications, influential open-source work, or widely deployed industry products.

This listing is enriched and indexed by YubHub. To apply, use the employer's original posting: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/worldlabs/jobs/4110164009