Staff Frontend Engineer

About the role

Verkada is seeking a founding Staff Engineer to architect a new 3D spatial platform. You will transform static floor plans into a high-performance, collaborative engine that supports 8 product lines. In this role, you own the technical vision for a spatial computing platform that redefines how teams interact with physical environments digitally. You are responsible for designing systems that turn complex geospatial data into responsive, intuitive user experiences. The position requires deep collaboration with product, design, and infrastructure teams to align rendering strategies with business objectives. You will mentor junior engineers and establish best practices that ensure code quality, performance, and scalability. Your work will directly influence how customers visualize, analyze, and manage physical spaces through software. This is an opportunity to build foundational systems that set the standard for spatial interaction in enterprise applications.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Design a rendering architecture capable of high-density geospatial visualization and real-time vertex manipulation.
• Define UX interaction models for spatial editing, including snapping, loading transitions, and cursor states.
• Achieve sub-millisecond input latency by optimizing GPU buffer updates and writing custom shaders.
• Create advanced tools for 3D line-of-sight analysis, AI-driven hardware placement, and signal strength heatmaps.
• Implement a client-side CRDT sync engine to support multi-user, offline-first editing.
• Build reusable component libraries that abstract complex 3D operations into intuitive user interactions.
• Optimize asset pipelines to reduce load times and memory consumption for large-scale spatial datasets.
• Integrate real-time sensor data streams into the 3D environment to support live monitoring and simulation.
• Collaborate with data scientists to visualize AI-driven recommendations within the spatial interface.
• Establish performance benchmarks and monitoring strategies to ensure consistent user experience across devices.
• Partner with backend engineers to define APIs that efficiently stream spatial data to the frontend.
• Lead code reviews and technical documentation to ensure knowledge sharing and long-term maintainability.
• Prototype new interaction paradigms using emerging web standards to evaluate feasibility for production.
• Translate business requirements into technical specifications that guide the frontend implementation roadmap.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in high-performance graphics or complex customer-facing web applications.
• Mastery of JavaScript fundamentals and React, including state and data libraries like Zustand or React Query.
• Degree in Computer Science or a related field with knowledge of linear algebra, data structures, and memory management.
• Ability to maintain pixel-perfect visual standards and high-performance interaction quality.
• Experience bridging CAD-level precision with consumer-grade user experience design.
• Understanding of 3D geometry, coordinate system conversions, and geospatial projections.
• Demonstrated ability to debug performance bottlenecks in rendering pipelines.
• Familiarity with version control workflows and collaborative development practices.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently on ambiguous challenges.
• Commitment to writing clean, testable, and maintainable code that adheres to industry standards.
• Willingness to engage in technical discussions that influence architectural decisions at scale.
• Proven track record of delivering complex projects on schedule and within scope.
• Openness to feedback and collaboration with cross-functional teams to refine product direction.
• Willingness to mentor peers and contribute to the growth of the engineering culture.

Nice to have

• Proficiency with Deck.gl, MapLibre, Three.js, WebGL, or WebGPU.
• Experience with real-time synchronization systems like Yjs or Automerge.
• Familiarity with PostGIS, vector tiling, and GIS workflows.

Practical notes

• Verkada provides full visa sponsorship and will assist in the transfer process for successful candidates.
• Benefits include 100% covered employee healthcare premiums (80% for family), HSA/FSA options, mental health support, paid parental leave, fertility benefits, and daily healthy lunches.
• Compensation includes base salary and potential equity in the form of RSUs.
• The role operates on a full-time schedule.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States or be eligible for sponsorship.
• The position is based in San Mateo, California, with potential expectations for in-office collaboration.
• Applicants should be prepared to discuss their technical portfolio and relevant project experiences during the interview process.
• The hiring timeline will follow standard Verkada practices, with multiple rounds of interviews to assess technical and cultural fit.
• Relocation support may be considered for candidates who successfully negotiate terms during the hiring process.
• This role requires a long-term commitment to building scalable spatial platforms that evolve with emerging technologies.