Senior Engineer - HD Maps

About the role

The senior engineer in this role will own the entire lifecycle of our HD maps, from initial design through deployment and ongoing maintenance across all Applied Intuition products. They will define the map storage format to handle expanding feature sets while optimizing for distribution, focusing on UIs, data pipelines, storage strategies, and SDKs. This position involves collaborating closely with both internal engineers and external customers to shape current and future map designs and features. The hire will lead the implementation of HD maps end-to-end, ensuring alignment with real-world mapping and localization challenges. They will bring experience in autonomous vehicles or simulation products to guide architectural decisions. The role requires fluency in working with C++ and/or Python to build robust map components. Ultimately, this engineer will drive the evolution of our maps to support diverse customer needs in automotive, defense, and industrial applications.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead the implementation and maintenance of HD maps across the entire Applied Intuition product suite.
• Define the map storage format to handle more features while optimizing for distribution, focusing on UIs, data pipelines, storage, and SDKs.
• Collaborate with engineers and customers on existing and future map designs and features.
• Own end-to-end HD maps functionality to solve customer needs in localized information calculation, global map data querying, and map visualization and inspection.
• Build the future of our maps by partnering with cross-functional engineering teams and customer stakeholders.
• Address real-world mapping and localization challenges through the development of software components and subsystems.
• Leverage 2+ years of experience in autonomous vehicles or simulation products to guide technical decisions.
• Utilize working knowledge of C++ and/or Python to implement scalable and efficient map solutions.
• Ensure map data pipelines and storage strategies meet the demands of large-scale, global map datasets.
• Contribute to the design of map querying systems that enable fast and localized information retrieval.
• Support the integration of map features into UI workflows and SDKs for internal and external users.
• Drive improvements in map visualization and inspection tools to enhance debugging and data validation.
• Partner with product teams to translate customer requirements into technical map features.
• Maintain high standards for reliability, performance, and scalability in all map-related components.

Requirements

• Experience building software components or (sub) systems that address real-world mapping and localization challenges.
• 2+ years of experience working in either autonomous vehicles or simulation products.
• Working knowledge of C++ and/or Python.
• Strong understanding of map data structures, storage formats, and querying mechanisms.
• Proven ability to design and implement systems that handle large-scale spatial data.
• Experience with data pipelines relevant to mapping, ingestion, and distribution.
• Familiarity with UI considerations for map visualization and inspection tools.
• Commitment to building reliable and performant software in a fast-paced engineering environment.
• Willingness to collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including product managers, designers, and other engineers.
• Alignment with Applied Intuition's mission of bringing intelligence to physical machines.
• Ability to work in an in-office environment with a baseline of 5 days per week, while exercising flexibility for occasional remote arrangements.
• Compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity regulations as a federal contractor or subcontractor.
• Willingness to contribute to the future of HD maps across automotive, defense, and industrial applications.
• Capacity to balance technical ownership with effective communication and documentation.

Nice to have

None specified.

Practical notes

This role is based in Sunnyvale, California, and follows an in-office work model with expectation of 5 days per week on-site. The company recognizes the importance of flexibility and allows for occasional remote work, such as starting the day with morning meetings from home or adjusting start times to accommodate family commitments. There are no specified travel requirements, visa constraints, or application deadlines mentioned in the current role description.