Senior Software Engineer, Localization and Mapping
Job description
About the role
You will design and implement high-precision localization systems to support autonomous vehicle navigation. This position focuses on building scalable mapping frameworks that allow robots to determine their position in complex environments. You will own the end-to-end design of localization pipelines that ensure robots understand where they are at all times. The role requires close collaboration with hardware, perception, and planning teams to align mapping data with real-time decision making. You will be responsible for translating ambiguous geographic requirements into robust software architectures that scale across diverse operational domains. This position demands comfort with ambiguity and the ability to drive technical direction in a fast-paced startup environment. You will mentor junior engineers by providing code reviews, design guidance, and technical leadership on critical mapping challenges. The work you do will directly impact the reliability and safety of autonomous robots operating in the real world.
About the role
As a Senior Software Engineer in Localization and Mapping at Nuro, you will be responsible for designing and implementing the core systems that enable autonomous robots to understand their position within dynamic urban and suburban environments. The role centers on high-precision localization frameworks that must operate reliably and safely in the real world. You will translate high-level product and geographic requirements into scalable, production-grade software architectures. This position requires a balance of algorithmic innovation and rigorous engineering discipline to ensure correctness under all operating conditions. You will work at the intersection of software design, sensor technology, and mapping science to define how robots perceive and navigate their surroundings. The position carries significant responsibility for both system performance and safety, directly influencing the success of Nuro's autonomous operations.
Key facts
What you'll do
- Architect and implement algorithms for real-time sensor fusion and state estimation across heterogeneous sensor inputs.
- Design and build high-definition map data pipelines that ingest, process, and validate large-scale spatial datasets efficiently.
- Drive initiatives to improve localization accuracy, robustness, and latency across varied urban and suburban operational conditions.
- Partner closely with perception and planning teams to integrate mapping data into the driving stack while maintaining strict timing constraints.
- Develop and maintain production-grade infrastructure that supports rapid iteration, testing, and deployment of localization features.
- Lead debugging and investigation of complex edge-case localization failures using log analysis, simulation, and real-world data.
- Define and enforce coding standards, software design patterns, and documentation practices for localization components.
- Optimize computational performance of mapping algorithms to meet the constraints of embedded and edge deployment targets.
- Evaluate and incorporate advances in SLAM, computer vision, and probabilistic filtering to maintain a competitive technical advantage.
- Mentor engineers at various levels by providing clear technical guidance, facilitating design discussions, and promoting best practices.
What you'll do
Your daily responsibilities will include designing and implementing the algorithms that enable robots to fuse multiple sensor inputs into a coherent understanding of their position. You will build and maintain the high-definition mapping pipelines that process vast quantities of spatial data into reliable representations of the world. You will lead efforts to improve the accuracy, robustness, and latency of localization systems across a wide range of operational environments. Collaboration with perception and planning teams will be essential to ensure that mapping data is integrated effectively into the vehicle's decision-making stack under strict timing constraints. You will also be responsible for developing and maintaining the production-grade infrastructure that supports continuous testing, iteration, and deployment of localization features. When failures occur, you will lead investigations using logs, simulations, and real-world data to resolve complex edge cases. You will define and enforce software standards and documentation practices to ensure long-term maintainability. Performance optimization for embedded and edge platforms will be a key focus, as will the evaluation of new advances in SLAM, computer vision, and probabilistic filtering. You will also mentor engineers at various levels, providing technical guidance and fostering a culture of quality and best practices.
Requirements
- Hold a Bachelor degree or higher in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related technical field.
- Bring professional experience in C++ software development focused on autonomous systems and real-time applications.
- Demonstrate a background in Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), computer vision, or probabilistic filtering techniques.
- Show the ability to write production-grade code that meets the rigorous standards of safety-critical application development.
- Exhibit strong problem-solving skills with an emphasis on debugging intricate system-level issues under pressure.
- Communicate effectively in a collaborative team environment, articulating technical trade-offs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Thrive in an agile development process, contributing to sprint planning, code reviews, and iterative improvement of the codebase.
- Maintain a deep commitment to software quality, reliability, and correctness in all deliverables.
Requirements
To be successful in this role, you must hold at least a Bachelor degree in Computer Science, Robotics, or a closely related technical discipline. You should have professional experience developing C++ software for autonomous systems and real-time applications, with a proven ability to deliver production-grade code. A demonstrated background in SLAM, computer vision, or probabilistic filtering is essential, as these techniques form the foundation of the work you will perform. You must be able to design and implement systems that meet the stringent reliability and safety requirements of autonomous vehicle technology. Strong problem-solving skills are required, particularly when diagnosing and resolving complex system-level issues under tight deadlines. Effective communication is critical, as you will need to collaborate with cross-functional teams and explain technical trade-offs to both technical and non-technical audiences. You should be comfortable working in an agile development environment, actively participating in sprint planning, code reviews, and continuous codebase improvement. A deep commitment to software quality, reliability, and correctness is required in all deliverables, reflecting the safety-critical nature of the systems you will build.
Skills & tools
- C++
- SLAM
- Sensor fusion
- Computer vision
- Mapping algorithms