Also called: Vision Systems Engineer
Builds camera-and-software systems that let machines 'see' parts, read codes and spot tiny defects at high speed.
You set up cameras and special lights over a conveyor that moves 600 bottles a minute. You train the software to tell a good cap from a crooked one, then tweak the lighting until glare stops fooling it. Half your day is in code, half is on a ladder adjusting a camera bracket.
Estimate based on engineering and computer-vision job postings.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in electrical or computer engineering; computer-vision coursework is a big plus.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science.
Growing much faster than average. No separate BLS projection; strong demand for automated inspection.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI vision models now train with little coding, so routine setups shrink; hard lighting, optics and integration problems stay human.
Classes: AP Calculus, AP Computer Science, AP Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2199.
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