Senior Software Engineer, Map Platform

About the role

You will design and maintain the mapping infrastructure that powers autonomous driving systems. This role is centered on the creation and evolution of high-fidelity spatial data structures that form the backbone of our navigation capabilities. You will own the processing pipelines responsible for transforming raw sensor inputs into reliable map data used by vehicles in the field. The position requires a deep commitment to building systems that are both performant and robust for safety-critical applications. You will work closely with cross-functional partners to ensure the map layers meet the stringent accuracy requirements of autonomous operations. This role involves balancing long-term architectural planning with the immediate needs of rapid software iteration. You will be responsible for ensuring the integrity and consistency of the spatial database as it scales with the growth of the fleet.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect and implement scalable software components dedicated to the ingestion, storage, and high-throughput retrieval of map data.
• Engineer automated data processing workflows that continuously update map layers by ingesting and fusing heterogeneous sensor data from the operational vehicle fleet.
• Partner intricately with perception and planning engineers to validate map accuracy and ensure the reliability of localization outputs in dynamic real-world scenarios.
• Refactor and optimize core data structures to achieve sub-millisecond query performance essential for real-time vehicle navigation and decision-making.
• Develop and maintain resilient backend services that guarantee the availability and durability of critical mapping assets around the clock.
• Implement rigorous data validation procedures to detect and correct inconsistencies within spatial datasets before they reach production environments.
• Lead the design of interfaces that allow other software teams to efficiently query and leverage map features for their specific algorithmic needs.
• Investigate and prototype novel storage solutions to handle the exponential growth of high-definition map data generated by sensors.
• Write comprehensive documentation for internal APIs and data schemas to facilitate knowledge sharing and onboarding of new team members.
• Champion best practices in software engineering, including code reviews, testing strategies, and deployment automation for mapping infrastructure.

Requirements

• Possess professional experience writing C++ code in a production environment, demonstrating a strong grasp of low-level systems programming.
• Bring a background in building distributed systems or large-scale data processing platforms that handle concurrent workloads and high availability.
• Show a solid understanding of spatial data concepts, geometry operations, or geographic information systems principles.
• Exhibit the ability to write clean, maintainable, and efficient code that adheres to strict standards for safety-critical applications.
• Have a proven track record of debugging complex issues in performance-critical systems where latency and resource utilization are paramount.
• Demonstrate experience with version control systems and collaborative development workflows essential for managing large codebases.
• Display strong problem-solving skills with the aptitude to learn and apply new technologies relevant to mapping and navigation domains.
• Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders to align technical implementations with business objectives.

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience working with autonomous vehicle sensor stacks or robotics software frameworks that process LiDAR, radar, or camera data.
• Familiarity with cloud infrastructure and big data tools used for managing, processing, and analyzing massive geospatial datasets.
• Proficiency in Python for writing data analysis scripts, automation tasks, and tools that support the map development lifecycle.

Skills & tools

C++

Python

Distributed Systems

Spatial Data Processing

Mapping Infrastructure

Practical notes

Nuro is currently transitioning its focus toward licensing autonomous driving software for robotaxis and passenger vehicles. Candidates should be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment undergoing strategic shifts. The role is full-time and based in Mountain View, California. No specific visa sponsorship details or application deadlines are published for this position on the source material.