Sr. Staff Engineer, Perception AI Mapping

Watershed Ventures; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 265,000 - 331,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a Perception Mapping Lead to drive mapping strategy for consumer and robotaxi platforms. You will deliver core perception components and may lead a team of contributors depending on experience.

You will collaborate across the autonomy org to ensure robust, real-time mapping with high reliability and performance in safety-critical systems. This role offers growth into leadership depending on background.

Qualifications

• Experience building perception systems for map generation and maintenance.
• Strong background in ML, CV, SLAM and state estimation.
• Proven software engineering and systems design track record.
• Understanding HD/SD map representations and usage in AV stacks.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate to define and refine mapping strategy for consumer and robotaxi platforms.
• Design, build, evaluate, deploy, and maintain core perception components.
• Ensure real-time, safe integration of mapping software in systems.
• Recruit, mentor, and manage contributors (optional by experience).

Skills

Machine Learning

Computer Vision

SLAM

State Estimation

Software Engineering

Systems Design

Cross-Functional Coordination

Problem-Solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in CS/Robotics/EE

Job description

About Rivian Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

Role Summary

The Perception Mapping Lead will drive the expansion of mapping capabilities across both consumer and robotaxi autonomy platforms. This position involves collaborating closely with the broader autonomy organization to define our long-term mapping strategy and taking direct responsibility for delivering the necessary perception components. Depending on experience, this role may also encompass hiring and managing a team of individual contributors to support these initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the broader autonomy organization to develop and refine the mapping strategy for consumer and robotaxi platforms.
• Design, build, evaluate, deploy, and maintain the core perception components critical to the mapping infrastructure.
• Ensure robust integration and deterministic performance of mapping software within real-time, safety-critical systems.
• Recruit, mentor, and manage individual contributors to support the team's expanding scope (optional based on candidate experience).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Extensive experience developing the perception systems used for map generation and maintenance, specifically utilizing Machine Learning, Computer Vision, SLAM, and state estimation.
• Proven track record in software engineering and systems design for building, maintaining, and distributing map data at scale.
• Deep understanding of various map representations—including high-definition (HD) and standard-definition (SD) frameworks—and their specific utility within autonomous vehicle stacks.
• Broad comprehension of full-stack perception systems, including modern development tools, testing frameworks, and validation processes.
• Demonstrated ability to isolate and root-cause complex engineering issues across the software stack and implement reliable, real-time solutions.
• Strong capability to drive technical progress across complex systems spanning multiple domains, components, and stakeholders.
• Excellent cross-functional coordination, problem-solving, and communication skills within a fast-paced engineering environment.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $265,000 - $331,000 for California based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs. The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards.

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees.
• You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition or any other characteristic protected by law. Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [e-mail].

Candidate Data Privacy

Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services. Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions. Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.