Senior Software Engineer, Autonomy - Calibration, Mapping & Localization

Based in Mountain View, CA, Cyngn is a publicly-traded autonomous technology company deploying self-driving industrial vehicles—specifically autonomous tuggers—to factories, warehouses, and other facilities throughout North America.

Why join Cyngn

• Small and big: under 100 employees with the energy of a startup, yet publicly traded, offering liquid equity and close-knit mentorship.
• Build today, deploy tomorrow: autonomous vehicles are already in real client operations, delivering tangible impact.
• Collaborative, diverse team of sharp thinkers and kind humans where every perspective drives innovation.

About the role

As a Staff/Senior Software Engineer on our Calibration, Localization, & Mapping (CLAM) team, you will deliver mission-critical improvements and new features to our calibration, localization, and mapping subsystems. You will work on a small, focused team developing production-quality software that enables efficient HD map creation at Cyngn deployment sites and robust localization for our autonomous vehicle fleets. Cross-functional collaboration with vehicle infrastructure, hardware, QA, and other autonomy teams (Perception, Decision, Planning, and Control) ensures seamless integration, comprehensive testing, and safe, efficient driving for the next generation of Cyngn’s autonomous vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, tune, and test mapping, localization, and sensor calibration algorithms for our autonomous vehicle platforms using C++ and Python.
• Develop tooling and metrics for performance validation and continuous testing frameworks.
• Balance project tasks, code reviews, and research to meet product-driven milestones in a fast-paced startup environment.

Qualifications

• MS/PhD with focus in robotics or a similar technical field of study.
• Solid foundation in probability theory, linear algebra, 3D geometry, and spatial coordinate transformations.
• In-depth understanding of matrix factorization algorithms and Lie algebra/groups.
• Theoretical knowledge of state-of-the-art 3D Lidar-based mapping and localization techniques (LOAM series, GICP, FastLIO, bundle-adjustment).
• Familiarity with state estimation frameworks (EKF’s) and modern nonlinear optimization libraries (GTSAM, G2O, Ceres-Solver, GNC-Solver).
• 6+ years of industry experience as an autonomous vehicle or robotics software engineer, including hands-on implementation and tuning on production hardware.
• 6+ years of industry experience writing C++ in a production environment (architecture design, unit testing, code review, algorithm performance trade-offs).
• Proficiency in Python.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Bonus Qualifications

• Proven record of top-tier publications or patents.
• Experience with GPU programming and CUDA.
• Experience implementing automated map change detection and updating techniques.
• Experience with modern multi-sensor calibration and sensor mis-alignment detection algorithms.
• Experience with camera-based SLAM and 3D multi-view geometry.
• Experience working with ROS2 to design, build, and operate robotic systems.
• Exposure to modern software development tools: Git, Jira.

Benefits & Perks

• Health benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA, FSA (Health & Dependent Daycare), Employee Assistance Program, 1:1 Health Concierge.
• Life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance (100% company-funded premiums).
• Company 401(k).
• Commuter benefits.
• Flexible vacation policy.
• Remote or hybrid work opportunities.
• Sabbatical leave after 5 years.
• Paid parental leave.
• Daily lunches for in-office employees and fully-stocked kitchen with snacks and beverages.
• Monthly meal and tech allowances for remote employees.

Pay

$180,000 - $198,000 a year.