> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/4563777-staff-software-engineer-multimedia-video-pipeline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/4563777-staff-software-engineer-multimedia-video-pipeline). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Staff Software Engineer - Multimedia (Video Pipeline) - **Company:** Rivian - **Location:** Palo Alto, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Application Integration Architecture, Computer Vision, C++ (Programming Language), Cloud Computing, Encodings, Codecs, Cyber Security, Computer Programming, Computer Engineering, Data Structures, Linux, Memory Management, FFmpeg, Fraud Prevention and Detection, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, Human-Computer Interaction, Image Quality, Internet Services, OpenCV, OpenGL, OpenCL, Performance Tuning, Software Architecture, Cloud Services, Software Engineering, Data Streaming, Systems Integration, WebRTC, Multithreading, Real-Time Transport Protocol, Real Time Systems, High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), On-device Inference, Parallel Computation, RTSP, EGL (Enterprise Generation Language), Information Technology, Low Latency, Sentry, Live Streaming, Decoding, C++14, Data Pipelines, ChromaDB - **Published:** November 4, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.careerbuilder.com/job-details/staff-software-engineer-multimedia-video-pipeline-palo-alto-ca--53103edf-3859-4a6f-bbee-bd2d07ec1621 ## About the Role Software Engineering, Multimedia Software, Cloud Computing, Operating Systems, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software Engineering, Internet Service Providers, High Throughput, Embedded Systems, Technical Leadership, We are seeking a highly skilled Staff Software Engineer to join our team, focusing exclusively on the architecture and advancement of our in-vehicle video pipeline. You will own the end-to-end path from camera sensors and ISP through capture, encoding, streaming, recording, and display, setting the technical direction for how video is acquired, processed, and delivered across the platform. The ideal candidate has deep expertise in C++ and a proven track record of designing and optimizing low-latency, high-throughput multimedia systems on embedded heterogeneous hardware. This role primarily focuses on embedded systems development for high-performance applications and carries technical leadership responsibility across multiple teams. This is a hybrid role based out of our Palo, Alto, CA office., * Programming Expertise: Expert proficiency in modern C++ (C++17 or later) on Linux/embedded systems; strong multithreading and real-time systems skills. * Video Pipeline Proficiency: Extensive hands-on experience building production video pipelines, including camera capture (V4L2/libcamera), ISP tuning integration, hardware codecs (H.264/H.265/AV1), and streaming protocols (RTSP/RTP/WebRTC). * Multimedia Frameworks: Deep experience with GStreamer (including custom plugin/element development) and/or FFmpeg, and with Linux graphics/memory primitives (DMA-BUF, DRM/KMS, Wayland, EGL). * Hardware Optimization: Demonstrated experience implementing and optimizing media workloads on embedded heterogeneous hardware (CPU, GPU, VPU, ISP, DSP), including zero-copy data paths and power/thermal-aware design. * Technical Leadership: Experience leading architecture for complex multimedia systems, mentoring engineers, and influencing roadmaps across teams. * Foundational Knowledge: Strong understanding of algorithms, data structures, software architecture, and video fundamentals (color spaces, chroma subsampling, rate control, GOP structure, timestamps/synchronization). * Education: Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with 10+ years of relevant experience., * Experience with automotive camera systems (GMSL/FPD-Link, surround view, digital mirrors, dashcam/sentry recording) * Functional-safety or security requirements for video * Computer vision/AI integration (OpenCV, on-device inference) * Visual computing/parallel programming frameworks (OpenCL, OpenGL ES, Vulkan) ## Description * Video Pipeline Architecture: Define and own the architecture of the camera-to-display video pipeline, including capture, ISP integration, color conversion, scaling, encoding/decoding, streaming, recording, and rendering, with minimal latency and high power efficiency. * Codec & Streaming Development: Design, develop, implement and integrate hardware-accelerated video encode/decode (H.264/H.265/AV1) and streaming/recording features (RTSP, RTP, WebRTC, MP4/MKV containers), ensuring robustness and scalability. * Performance Optimization: Analyze and optimize video pipelines for real-time performance and glass-to-glass latency across CPU, GPU, VPU/hardware codecs, ISP, and DSP, using zero-copy buffer sharing (DMA-BUF, GBM) and efficient memory management. * Framework & Platform Integration: Build and maintain the multimedia stack on frameworks such as GStreamer, V4L2, libcamera, FFmpeg, and vendor SDKs, and integrate it with the OS, display server, and downstream consumers (CV/AI, HMI, telematics). * Technical Leadership: Set standards, review designs and code, mentor engineers, and drive cross-team alignment on video interfaces, buffer formats, and quality/latency targets. * Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product, hardware, camera/ISP, perception, and platform teams to bring new camera and video features into the final product. * Quality & Diagnostics: Establish video quality metrics (PSNR/SSIM/VMAF), latency measurement, and telemetry/tracing to detect and resolve frame drops, tearing, A/V sync, and stability issues in production. * Advanced Prototyping: Rapidly prototype and iterate on new pipeline designs and codec configurations to solve challenging latency, bandwidth, and image-quality problems., Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at candidateaccommodations@rivian.com. Candidate Data Privacy Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies" may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes ("Candidate Personal Data"). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies' service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions. If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment-related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.