Kodiak Robotics
Staff Autonomy Software Engineer, Localization
$200K–$260K
Mountain View, CA +1 · Staff · Full-time · Posted Sep 20, 2026
- Location
- Mountain View, CA
Mountain View, California, United States - Experience
- Academic or industry experience is requested; no number of years is specified.
- Education
- BS, MS or PhD.
- Visa sponsorship
- Visa sponsorship may be provided for eligible candidates, if applicable.
About the job
Sets technical direction and develops reliable onboard localization, navigation, and pose-estimation systems for autonomous vehicles.
What you'll do
- Set architecture for onboard navigation and pose estimation, including sensor fusion across IMU, camera, and lidar.
- Direct visual and lidar odometry development and define metrics for evaluating algorithm and system performance.
- Evaluate sensor performance and calibration, and serve as a technical escalation point for localization issues.
What they ask for
- BS, MS, or PhD with academic or industry experience building navigation, localization, and odometry systems.
- Expertise in C++ and strong software engineering skills developing high-reliability applications.
- Deep experience converting raw sensor data into 6-DOF pose using Kalman Filtering, factor graphs, or comparable state-estimation techniques.
- Experience with computer vision, visual odometry, and/or point-cloud odometry.
Nice to have
- A history of mentoring engineers and improving a team’s technical practices.
- Experience writing clear design documentation and working across engineering disciplines.
Pay
$200,000 — $260,000 USD (base salary)
Tools
C++, GNSS, IMU, Kalman Filtering, factor graphs, camera, lidar, wheel speed
AI focus
Uses a third-party AI tool (Endorsed) to assist in initial application screening; final hiring decisions are made by human recruiters.
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative