Senior Software Engineer, Localization

Gatik; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Gatik is seeking a Senior/Staff Software Engineer for its Localization team in Santa Clara, CA. You will build state-of-the-art sensor fusion and localization algorithms for autonomous middle-mile vehicles.

You will work on real-time sensor measurements, GPS-IMU fusion, and SLAM, collaborating with perception, mapping and control teams to ensure robust performance in diverse environments. This onsite role offers a challenging, execution-focused environment.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Robotics, CS, EE, or related field.
• 6+ years industry experience writing C++ in production environments.
• 2+ years experience in AV/ADAS.
• Experience with GPS-IMU fusion and SLAM.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python, with ROS/ROS2.
• Experience with large-scale real-world data sets.
• Ability to implement mathematical concepts effectively in software.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize sensor-based localization and odometry algorithms to improve positioning accuracy.
• Implement sensor fusion using IMU, GPS, Lidar, and other sensors for robust localization.
• Develop and integrate real-time SLAM for structured and unstructured environments.
• Collaborate with perception, mapping, and control teams to integrate localization outputs into the stack.
• Conduct rigorous testing and validation in simulation and real-world scenarios; handle urban and unstructured conditions.
• Analyze and debug localization issues; implement improvements from field tests and feedback.
• Research state-of-the-art SLAM, lidar, and camera localization techniques.
• Contribute to benchmarking, tuning, and real-time performance improvements.

Skills

C++

Python

ROS/ROS2

GPS-IMU Fusion

SLAM

Localization Algorithms

Real-time Systems

Sensor Fusion

Large-scale Data Processing

Education

MS or PhD in Robotics / CS / EE

Tools

Git

Linux

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

Gatik, the leader in autonomous middle-mile logistics, is revolutionizing the B2B supply chain with its autonomous transportation-as-a-service (ATaaS) solution and prioritizing safe, consistent deliveries while streamlining freight movement by reducing congestion. The company focuses on short-haul, B2B logistics for Fortune 500 retailers and in 2021 launched the world’s first fully driverless commercial transportation service with Walmart. Gatik's Class 3-7 autonomous trucks are commercially deployed across major markets, including Texas, Arkansas, and Ontario, Canada, driving innovation in freight transportation.

The company's proprietary Level 4 autonomous technology, Gatik Carrier™, is custom-built to transport freight safely and efficiently between pick-up and drop-off locations on the middle mile. With robust capabilities in both highway and urban environments, Gatik Carrier™ serves as an all-encompassing solution that integrates advanced software and hardware powering the fleet, facilitating effortless integration into customers' logistics operations.

About the role

We are seeking a Senior/Staff Software Engineer to join our Localization team to build state-of-the-art sensor fusion solutions that combine data from a wide variety of sensors, as well as localization algorithms that integrate with maps in real time. We are looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team. You will play a critical part in building robust, real-time localization solutions, leveraging real-time sensor measurements to achieve high accuracy in diverse and challenging environments.

This role is onsite 5 days at our Santa Clara, CA office!

What you'll do

• Design, develop, and optimize sensor-based localization and odometry algorithms to improve the positioning accuracy of autonomous vehicles.
• Implement algorithms for sensor fusion, utilizing data from IMU, GPS, Lidar, and other sensors to create a robust, reliable localization pipeline.
• Develop and integrate real-time SLAM techniques for both structured and unstructured environments.
• Collaborate closely with perception, mapping, and control teams to ensure the seamless integration of localization outputs within the autonomous driving stack.
• Conduct rigorous testing and validation in both simulation environments and real-world scenarios, focusing on challenging conditions like urban and unstructured environments.
• Analyze and debug complex issues in localization, implementing improvements based on both field test data and user feedback.
• Research state-of-the-art techniques in lidar and camera-based localization, keeping the localization stack up-to-date with advancements in sensor processing and computational efficiency.
• Contribute to performance benchmarking, tuning, and continuous improvement efforts to meet real-time constraints and increase system robustness.

What we're looking for

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 6+ years industry experience writing C++ software in a production environment - architecture design, unit testing, code review, algorithm performance trade-offs, etc.
• 2+ years of experience in the AV/ADAS industries.
• Experience in developing localization algorithms for autonomous vehicles or robotic systems, with a strong focus on GPS-IMU sensor fusion and SLAM.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python, with hands-on experience in ROS/ROS2.
• Experience with pose estimation, SLAM, probabilistic filtering, Kalman filtering, and non-linear optimization.
• Practical experience in processing large-scale and real-world data sets.
• Experience implementing mathematical principles effectively in software
• Expert-level knowledge of SLAM, GNSS/INS.
• Experience with sensor fusion and sensor calibration techniques, particularly integrating IMU, GPS, and Lidar data for enhanced localization accuracy.
• Experience with performance optimization and real-time system requirements

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with MATLAB / Simulink.
• Proficiency in linear algebra, probability, and optimization techniques.
• Proven ability to optimize and deploy real-time control systems in fast-paced environments.

Salary Range- $180,000- $250,000

More about Gatik

Founded in 2017 by experts in autonomous vehicle technology, Gatik has rapidly expanded its presence to Mountain View, Dallas-Fort Worth, Arkansas, and Toronto. As the first and only company to achieve fully driverless middle-mile commercial deliveries, Gatik holds a unique and defensible position in the AV industry, with a clear trajectory toward sustainable growth and profitability.

We have delivered complete, proprietary AV technology - an integration of software and hardware - to enable earlier successes for our clients in constrained Level 4 autonomy. By choosing the middle mile – with defined point-to-point delivery, we have simplified some of the more complex AV challenges, enabling us to achieve full autonomy ahead of competitors. Given extensive knowledge of Gatik’s well-defined, fixed route ODDs and hybrid architecture, we are able to hyper-optimize our models with exponentially less data, establish gate-keeping mechanisms to maintain explainability, and ensure continued safety of the system for unmanned operations.

At Gatik, we connect people of extraordinary talent and experience to an opportunity to create a more resilient supply chain and contribute to our environment’s sustainability. We are diverse in our backgrounds and perspectives yet united by a bold vision and shared commitment to our values. Our culture emphasizes the importance of collaboration, respect and agility.

We at Gatik strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels they have opportunities to succeed and grow because we know that together we can do great things. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse team. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status or any legally protected status. E-Verify Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Gatik participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program

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As set forth in Gatik AI’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

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