Robotics Software Developer – Localization, State Estimation, & Sensor Fusion

BHF Robotics; Markham; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended Health & Dental & Vision Care

Employee & Family Benefits Program

Stock Options + Bonus Plan

Global Travel Assist Plan

Gym Access

Job summary

BHF Robotics in Markham, Ontario seeks a Robotics Software Developer with specialization in State Estimation, Localization, and Sensor Fusion to join the autonomy team. You will develop algorithms enabling precise self-localization in unstructured farming environments and bridge classical estimation with learning-based spatial AI.

Responsibilities include building real-time pipelines, SLAM, system modeling, production C++ code, HIL testing, and collaboration with research to translate papers

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s and Ph.D. in robotics or related discipline.
• 2+ years of robotics/autonomous vehicles experience.
• Strong C++ and Python with modern software practices (Git, CI/CD, testing).
• Deep understanding of state estimation (EKF/UKF, SLAM, etc.).
• Sensor fusion across IMU, GNSS, LiDAR, cameras and encoders.
• Experience with ROS2 and Docker in Linux environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize real-time state estimation and multi-sensor fusion pipelines.
• Develop robust off-road localization with SLAM and filtering.
• Model system dynamics and perform identification for robotic platforms.
• Produce production-grade C++ code for edge hardware under real-time constraints.
• Conduct HIL simulations and field tests to validate localization accuracy.
• Collaborate on research to turn papers into working software.

Skills

C++

Python

ROS2

Git

CI/CD

Unit testing

Education

Master’s and Ph.D. in Robotics or related field

Tools

PyTorch

TensorRT

ONNX

OpenCV

GTSAM

Docker

Job description

About the Company

BHF Robotics is a venture-backed, fast-growing agricultural robotics company that is currently transforming the technological landscape in agriculture. We specialize in designing and manufacturing agricultural robots that leverage frontier technology and AI research to tackle significant issues in agriculture. We apply artificial intelligence, perception, electrification technology, and robotics that enable data-driven agricultural management and precision treatment, helping growers to build a fully autonomous, efficient, and sustainable farming system.

We invite the smartest and most committed engineers, scientists, agricultural experts, and technologists, who united around the mission to drive the next Agtech revolution, to join us.

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Robotics Software Developer with expertise in State Estimation, Localization, and Sensor Fusion to join our autonomy team. In this role, you will help develop and implement state-of-the-art algorithms that allow our agricultural robots to precisely self-localize and estimate their state in highly challenging, unstructured, and dynamic farming environments.

Agricultural fields present severe localization hurdles, including extreme wheel slip, uneven terrain, dust, and GPS-denied zones under crop canopies. To solve these, you will bridge the gap between classical estimation theory (EKF, UKF, factor graphs) and modern learning-based spatial AI approaches.

The ideal candidate will design, train, and deploy robust real-time estimation frameworks from theoretical concept to field-deployed, production-grade software.

Key Responsibilities

• State Estimation & Sensor Fusion: Design, implement, and optimize robust, real-time state estimation and multi-sensor fusion pipelines (fusing IMUs, GNSS/RTK, LiDAR, cameras, and wheel odometry).
• Robust Off-Road Localization: Build and refine advanced SLAM (visual/lidar-inertial) and filtering frameworks optimized to maintain decimeter-level localization accuracy despite high-vibration and unstructured agricultural terrains.
• System Modelling & Identification: Perform system identification and build high-fidelity kinematic, dynamic, and learned models of our robotic platforms.
• Production C++ Development: Write clean, deterministic, and computationally efficient C++ code capable of running within strict real-time CPU/GPU budgets on edge hardware.
• Testing & Validation: Conduct hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations and on-machine field testing to validate localization accuracy, gather dataset training logs, and verify system stability.
• Collaboration & Research: Stay at the forefront of academic and industry research in spatial AI, state estimation, and learning-based localization, turning state-of-the-art papers into working code.

Qualifications

Required Skills & Experience:

• Education: Master’s and Ph.D. in Robotics, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline
• Experience: 2+ years of professional/research engineering experience in robotics and/or autonomous vehicles.
• Development Skills: Exceptional C++ and Python programming skills with a strong grasp of modern software engineering practices (Git, CI/CD, unit testing, profiling).
• Classical Estimation Theory: Deep theoretical understanding of and hands-on experience with state-estimation methods and stochastic systems. (including EKFs, UKFs, factor graphs, particle filters, and graph-based SLAM.)
• Sensor Integration: Proven experience integrating, calibrating, synchronizing, and fusing data from sensors such as cameras, LiDAR, radar, GNSS, wheel encoders, and/or IMUs in real-world robotic systems.
• Learning-Based Robotics: Proven experience applying machine learning or deep learning to spatial estimation challenges (using frameworks like PyTorch or TensorFlow, and optimization/deployment tools like TensorRT or ONNX).
• Math Foundations: Solid understanding of linear algebra, rigid body dynamics, and numerical optimization.
• Middleware & Environment: Hands-on experience with ROS2 and deploying containerized applications using Docker in Linux environments.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Familiarity with visual-inertial (VIO) or lidar-inertial (LIO) odometry frameworks.
• Experience with factor graph optimization libraries (e.g., GTSAM, Ceres Solver, g2o, or RTAB-Map).
• Experience handling state estimation challenges unique to off-road or agricultural environments (e.g., mud, high wheel slip, high dust, dynamic crop canopies, GPS-denied environments).
• Exposure to physics simulators (Gazebo, Isaac Sim) for closed-loop localization testing.
• Working knowledge of computer vision frameworks (OpenCV, ROS perception stack, or deep learning-based methods).
• Hands-on experience with system architecting for robotic or autonomous systems.Strong understanding of embedded systems and real-time computing.
• Hands-on experience with motion capture systems (e.g., OptiTrack, Vicon, Qualisys) in robotics applications.

Soft Skills:

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and system-level thinking.
• Highly self-motivated and comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment with startup-oriented hours.
• Commitment to working onsite five days a week to contribute to a collaborative in-office culture.
• Willingness to work hands-on in the field alongside the hardware and agronomy teams during testing and validation.

Pay range and compensation package

Competitive compensations, growth opportunities, and the chance to make a tangible impact in AgTech.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Please include your resume and cover letter in the application. Applications without cover letter will not be reviewed.

• Extended Health & Dental & Vision Care Plans
• Employee & Family Benefits Program
• Unparalleled Stock Options Grant + Bonus Plan
• Global Travel Assist Plan
• Company covered Gym Access

Why Join Us

You will lead the field service team for deployment of next-generation autonomous agricultural robotic systems that transform the industry. This role offers extensive exposure to technical management and leadership.

• You will lead the design and deployment of next-generation physical AI systems that transform the industry.
• This role offers extensive exposure to technical management and leadership, AI system design, and the full product lifecycle - providing hands-on experience in end-to-end development, from concept to deployment.
• Real opportunities of becoming Tech Lead to Head of Engineering to CTO in short period.
• Collaborate with leading experts in AI, robotics, and autonomous system.
• Competitive compensation, growth opportunities, and the chance to make a tangible impact in Physical AI and AgTech.