Staff Frontend Engineer - Mapping & Spatial Platform

Tensec; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 185,000 - 265,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in San Mateo is seeking a Staff Engineer to architect their next-generation Spatial Platform, focusing on creating high-performance geospatial systems. The role requires over 5 years of experience in web application development and strong computer science fundamentals. This greenfield position offers an annual pay range of $185,000 - $265,000 and opportunities for bonuses and equity. The ideal candidate will optimize rendering architectures and develop innovative collaborative tools.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience building complex, customer-facing web applications.
• Understanding of coordinate system conversions and geospatial projections.
• Experience with real-time sync architectures preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design a hybrid rendering architecture for geospatial visualization.
• Implement partial GPU buffer updates for optimized latency.
• Lead development of a real-time collaborative editor system.

Skills

Web applications development

High-performance graphics engines

Data structures knowledge

Memory management

Linear algebra

Education

Degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Deck.gl

MapLibre

Three.js

WebGL/WebGPU

PostGIS

Job description

San Mateo, CA United States

Who We Are

Verkada is transforming how organizations protect their people and places with an integrated, AI-powered platform. A leader in cloud physical security, Verkada helps organizations strengthen safety and efficiency through one connected software platform that includes solutions for video security, access control, air quality sensors, alarms, intercoms, and visitor management. Over 30,000 organizations worldwide, including more than 100 companies in the Fortune 500, trust Verkada as their physical security layer for easier management, intelligent control, and scalable deployments. Founded in 2016, Verkada has expanded rapidly with 15 offices and 2,200+ full-time employees.

About the Role

We are looking for a founding Staff Engineer to lead the technical architecture of our next-generation Spatial Platform. For the past decade, floor plans have been static images; we are rebuilding that foundation from the ground up as a high-performance, interactive, and collaborative 3D engine.

This is a greenfield role for a builder who wants to own a core pillar of Verkada’s infrastructure before we hit the public markets. You won't just build features—you will architect a platform that supports 8+ product lines, solving the "hard math" of geospatial projections and the "hard graphics" of rendering thousands of interactive assets at a buttery-smooth 60 FPS.

What You'll Do

• Architect a Dual-Engine System: Design a hybrid rendering architecture that bridges high-density geospatial visualization (via MapLibre/Deck.gl) with a high-frequency, imperative editing surface (via Three.js/Custom WebGL).
• Optimize for Latency: Solve the "500-element wall" by implementing partial GPU buffer updates and custom shaders, ensuring sub-millisecond input latency during real-time vertex manipulation.
• Build the Sync Engine: Lead the development of an offline-first, real-time collaborative editor utilizing CRDTs (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types) to allow multi-user planning of complex campuses.
• Spatial Intelligence: Develop power-user tools like real-time 3D line-of-sight analysis, signal strength heatmaps, and AI-driven hardware placement suggestions.
• Set the Standard: Work closely with backend teams to optimize binary vector tile (MVT) delivery and define the architectural patterns for our entire frontend organization.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of experience building complex, customer-facing web applications or high-performance graphics engines.
• CS Fundamentals: A degree in Computer Science or a related field, with strong intuition for data structures, memory management, and linear algebra.
• Mathematical Precision: Understanding of coordinate system conversions, geospatial projections, and 3D geometry.
• Product Grit: An obsessive eye for smooth interactions and the ability to bridge the gap between CAD-level precision and consumer-grade UX.

Nice to Haves

• Graphics Stack: Experience with Deck.gl, MapLibre, Three.js, or raw WebGL/WebGPU.
• Collaborative Systems: Experience with real-time sync architectures (e.g., Yjs, Automerge, or Operational Transforms).
• Low-Level Web: Proficiency in high-performance 2D/3D graphics (Canvas API, low-level buffer management, or custom shaders).
• Geospatial Mastery: Familiarity with PostGIS, vector tiling (MVT), and GIS workflows.

Annual Pay Range

At Verkada, we want to attract and retain the best employees, and compensate them in a way that appropriately and fairly values their individual contribution to the company. With that in mind, we carefully consider a number of factors to determine the appropriate starting pay for an employee, including their primary work location and an assessment of a candidate's skills and experience, as well as market demands and internal parity. A Verkada employee may be eligible for additional forms of compensation, depending on their role, including sales incentives, discretionary bonuses, and/or equity in the company in the form of restricted stock units (RSUs).

Below is the annual on-target earnings (OTE) range for full-time employees for this position, comprised of base compensation and commissions (if applicable).

$185,000 - $265,000 USD

As an equal opportunity employer, Verkada is committed to providing employment opportunities to all individuals. All applicants for positions at Verkada will be treated without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.