HW Camera and Sensor Engineer

NestAI builds the adaptive operating system for modern battlefield operations. Most AI systems are built once, validated at deployment, and expected to stay sufficient after that. That assumption holds until conditions change, and in defence, they always do. Our team develops adaptive intelligence for unmanned and command systems: AI that continuously learns from operational data and adapts to changing conditions, deployed in environments where there is no internet, no GPS, and failure is not an option. NestOS, our open, modular, and interoperable platform, enables this at scale and keeps capability evolution under sovereign European control.

Founded in 2025 by Peter Sarlin, whose previous company Silo AI became Europe's largest AI acquisition, NestAI has grown to over 200 engineers and scientists and partners with leading European defence forces and industry. We're ambitious about what we're building and honest with each other. The bar is high, and so are the standards we hold ourselves to. But this is also a place built on humility, trust, and looking after each other. If that sounds like the kind of work you want to do, keep reading.

Join us as a HW Camera and Sensor Engineer

You'll join our hardware engineering team as the person who takes camera and sensor work so it scales with the rest of the business. You'll own sensor selection, calibration, and integration end to end, working mainly on-site with experienced colleagues who are quick to collaborate and pitch in. At a company this size, you'll have real influence over how this area of the business is built.

What you'll work on

This role gets to develop the camera/sensor capability at NestAI, from choosing the right hardware to making sure it performs reliably once it's integrated. In this role, you will:

• Own the evaluation and selection of cameras and sensors against our technical requirements
• Build and maintain calibration procedures and tooling for single- and multi-camera setups
• Define and run benchmarking and validation plans, from lab testing through to field trials
• Integrate cameras and sensors into hardware systems together with electrical, mechanical, and firmware teams, covering mounting, interfacing, synchronisation, and power
• Partner with perception and software teams to make sure image quality, timing, and calibration accuracy meet their pipeline needs
• Diagnose image quality, synchronisation, and calibration-drift issues
• Document selection criteria, calibration procedures, and integration specs

What we're looking for

If your background doesn't match every requirement but the work resonates with you, we'd encourage you to apply. How you think, learn, and take ownership matters more to us than ticking every box. Here is what we are looking for:

• Deep expertise equivalent to 10+ years working with cameras or sensors in hardware, robotics, or embedded systems
• Experience with commercial camera interfaces such as USB3 Vision, GigE Vision, or MIPI CSI-2, along with their vendor SDKs
• Experience evaluating and selecting commercial camera modules and gimbals, rather than designing custom sensors
• Solid grasp of optics fundamentals: lens selection, field of view, distortion, exposure, and sensor characteristics
• Proficiency in Python and/or C++ for test tooling, automation, and calibration setups
• Experience leading technical projects and prioritising across competing demands as requirements shift
• Professional fluency in Finnish is a plus, though not required

Nice to have:

• Experience with multi-camera or stereo rigs, or camera-lidar/IMU sensor fusion and calibration
• Familiarity with embedded Linux camera stacks such as V4L2 or GStreamer
• Experience with camera calibration and tuning, both intrinsic and extrinsic, using tools such as OpenCV, ROS camera_calibration, Kalibr, or ISP tooling
• Understanding of LiDAR, radar, or sonar technologies

Why join NestAI

• Work alongside over 200 engineers and scientists, including 60+ PhDs. People who've built AI platforms, autonomous systems, and defence technology across Europe. Most of our people say the best thing about NestAI is the people you get to work with.
• Work with real ownership. You identify what needs building, talk to the right people, and ship. Ownership here is the expectation, not a talking point.
• Work at a pace where Monday's idea can be Friday's deployment. The problems we're solving are urgent, so the culture reflects it.
• Work on systems that must operate with no connectivity, no GPS, and no margin for error. The problems we're solving are technically hard, genuinely novel, and they sit at the intersection of AI and the physical world.
• Work at a company where the platform, the practices, and the standards are all being built right now. The people here get to define how things work and how they scale.

What we offer

We offer practical benefits to support your work and wellbeing:

• The chance to participate in the NestAI Employee Stock Option Program (ESOP)
• Occupational healthcare (currently provided by Mehiläinen)
• Epassi Flex benefit for sports, culture, commuting, and wellbeing
• Lunch benefit (25% tax-free coverage)
• Mental wellbeing services via Auntie
• Holiday allowance (50% of holiday salary)
• Phone benefit (subscription and device per company policy)
• Your choice of Mac or PC
• Regular team lunches and company events

We are continuously developing our benefits offering as we grow.

Good to know

This role requires a security clearance, which is standard for defence industry positions in Finland. The process is handled by the relevant authority and typically takes two to three months. You can start working at NestAI before the clearance is finalised. We are happy to answer any questions about the process during the recruitment.

Relocation support is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please note, we can't accept applications sent via email.

NestAI is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate all applicants on their skills, experience, and potential, regardless of background, identity, or personal characteristics. We believe the best teams are built from diverse perspectives, and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can do meaningful work.