Staff Software Engineer – Localization (Lidar Odometry & Pose Graph Optimization)

We are seeking a Staff Software Engineer with deep expertise in localization for autonomous systems, especially in Lidar Odometry and Pose Graph Optimization. You will play a critical role in designing, implementing, and optimizing high-performance, real-time localization algorithms that enable robust and accurate navigation of autonomous vehicles. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in solving complex algorithmic and system-level problems and has a proven track record with C++ in large-scale production environments. This role is onsite 5 days per week at our Mountain View, CA office. What you'll do Design and develop high-performance localization modules using Lidar-based odometry and pose graph optimization techniques. Architect robust and scalable systems for real-time state estimation on autonomous platforms. Contribute to the full software lifecycle: design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Collaborate closely with mapping, perception, and Control teams to integrate localization into the broader autonomy stack. Drive algorithmic innovation in SLAM, loop closure detection, outlier rejection, and sensor fusion. Optimize code for efficiency, robustness, and real-time performance on embedded and edge compute systems. Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and code reviews to elevate the team's overall engineering quality. Stay current with the latest research in the localization and SLAM domain and evaluate opportunities to apply new techniques. What we're looking for Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. 6+ years of total experience and 3+ years of hands-on experience working with Lidar Odometry and Pose Graph Optimization in real-world applications. Expert proficiency in modern C++ (C++14/17/20) and strong software engineering fundamentals (design patterns, concurrency, memory management). Strong understanding of SLAM, factor graphs, optimization frameworks (e.g., g2o, Ceres, GTSAM). Experience with 3D point cloud processing, ICP, scan matching, and Lidar SLAM pipelines. Familiarity with ROS/ROS2 and real-time robotics software development. Bonus Qualifications Experience working on autonomous vehicles, robotics platforms, or drone systems. Knowledge of sensor fusion techniques combining IMU, GPS, Lidar, and camera. Familiarity with Linux-based development, CI/CD pipelines, and performance profiling. Publications or open-source contributions in the area of localization or SLAM.