Research Scientist Intern, Human Sensing and Wearable Fit Modeling (PhD)

Meta

Posted 19 days ago

Internship

Redmond, Washington

In Person

Smart Summary

The intern will design and execute a research plan, developing and refining instrumentation techniques and protocols for capturing anthropometric data like eye tracking and head pose. Responsibilities also include building data acquisition pipelines, quantifying uncertainty, developing models for wearable system design targets, and communicating results to cross-functional partners.

We are seeking a PhD Research Intern with experience in human factors, biomechanics, sensing, and 3D data analysis. The ideal candidate should have experience designing experiments, analyzing results, and programming in Python, C++, or MATLAB. Strong communication skills and the ability to work with cross-functional teams are essential.

Must Have Skills for ATS

Human Factors

Biomechanics

Sensing

Instrumentation

3D Data Analysis

Eye Tracking

Head Pose Measurement

Wearable Devices

Data Collection

Data Analysis

Python

C++

MATLAB

Data Pipelines

Computational Geometry

Experimental Design

Job Description

We're seeking a PhD Research Intern to help advance Meta's methods to quantify/model user fit of wearable devices with a focus on head and eye pose measurement, and their implications on visual quality, comfort, and other system performance. The internship will involve developing instrumentation methods, capturing high-quality biometric data, and analyzing naturalistic head posture and gaze behavior to inform realistic design targets for future wearable systems. This role sits at the intersection of human factors, biomechanics, sensing and instrumentation, and computational 3D data analysis—enabling improved evaluation and design decisions for fit, optics, field of view, and related subsystems. Our internships are twelve (12) to twenty-four (24) weeks long and we have various start dates throughout the year.

Responsibilities
  • Design and execute a research plan—from problem statement through data collection, analysis, and recommendations.
  • Develop and refine instrumentation techniques and protocols for capturing anthropometric data (e.g., eye tracking, head pose, gaze behavior), optimizing for throughput, reliability, and practicality.
  • Build repeatable pipelines for sensor and data acquisition, processing, and quality assurance.
  • Quantify uncertainty, repeatability, and practical tradeoffs (e.g., fidelity, cost, scalability) to inform design decisions.
  • Develop models or frameworks that characterize variability and inform realistic design targets for wearable systems.
  • Communicate results to cross-functional partners through written reports, clear visuals, and actionable recommendations.


Minimum Qualifications
  • Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining a PhD degree in Human Factors, Biomechanics, Biophysics, Robotics, Computer Vision, Applied Math, Computer Graphics, or a related field
  • Demonstrated research experience designing experiments and analyzing results with appropriate rigor (repeatability, confounds, validation)
  • Hands-on experience with at least one of the following: eye tracking systems, IMUs, motion capture, other real-time biometric instrumentation, or 3D/geometry data processing (such as working with meshes, point clouds, coordinate systems, registration, or error analysis)
  • Proven programming skills in Python (and/or C++/MATLAB), including building data pipelines and producing reproducible analysis
  • Experience communicating technical work clearly to cross-functional audiences (written + verbal)
  • Must obtain work authorization in country of employment at the time of hire, and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment


Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience building or validating calibration procedures for sensing systems (eye tracking, IMU, mocap, photogrammetry/3D scanning)
  • Background in wearables, ergonomic/fit evaluation, or display/optics-adjacent human perception work
  • Knowledge of computational geometry / graphics concepts (e.g., coordinate transforms, pose estimation, registration, uncertainty propagation)
  • Familiarity with experimental design for time-series human behavior (task design, reducing confounds, modeling distributions)
  • Experience with privacy-aware handling of human subject data (e.g., minimizing retained identifiers, data governance considerations)
  • Intent to return to degree program after the completion of the internship/co-op


$7,313/month to $12,134/month + benefits

Meta

Meta's mission is to build the future of human connection and the technology that makes it possible. Our technologies help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. To help create a safe and respectful online space, we encourage constructive conversations on this page. Please note the following: • Start with an open mind. Whether you agree or disagree, engage with empathy. • Comments violating our Community Standards will be removed or hidden. Please treat everybody with respect. • Keep it constructive. Use your interactions here to learn about and grow your understanding of others. • Our moderators are here to uphold these guidelines for the benefit of everyone, every day. • If you are seeking support for issues related to your Facebook account, please reference our Help Center (https://www.facebook.com/help) or Help Community (https://www.facebook.com/help/community). For a full listing of our jobs, visit https://www.metacareers.com

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