Principal Engineer, Mapping and Localization (C++)

Location: Santa Clara, California, United States; Workplace: Hybrid

Salary: $200,000–$260,000 per year

Company

hirify.global is a Physical AI company developing AI-based virtual driver software for factory-built autonomous trucks, with operations in the United States and Europe.

What you will do

• Lead the design and evolution of localization architecture, technical roadmaps, and build-versus-buy decisions.
• Design real-time sensor-fusion, visual and LiDAR odometry, and global-localization algorithms using factor graphs, EKF/UKF, and particle filters.
• Develop pipelines to generate, maintain, query, and continuously update LiDAR-based HD maps.
• Build semantic map-matching and change-detection systems using fleet data to identify construction zones, lane shifts, and new signage.
• Optimize localization software for embedded latency, memory, and power constraints while maintaining safety and accuracy.
• Provide localization self-diagnosis capabilities, mentor engineers, and conduct rigorous code reviews.

Requirements

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of industry experience in robotics, including at least 4 years with production-level localization or mapping systems.
• Expert-level Modern C++14/17/20, including memory management, multithreading, and real-time systems.
• Strong knowledge of probabilistic robotics, Kalman filtering, nonlinear optimization, and SLAM.
• Deep understanding of 3D geometry, linear algebra, coordinate transformations, quaternions, and SE(3).
• Familiarity with Eigen, Ceres, PCL, OpenCV, and GTSAM.

Nice to have

• Experience shipping localization stacks for deployed autonomous vehicles or mobile robots.
• Hands-on experience with LOAM, lego-LOAM, ORB-SLAM, or VINS.
• CUDA/GPU programming or optimization for ARM-based embedded platforms.

Culture & Benefits

• Work in an innovative, future-oriented autonomous-driving field.
• Opportunities for personal and professional development.
• Catered free lunch, unlimited snacks, and beverages.
• Competitive benefits package including a 401(k) plan.