Staff Autonomy Software Engineer, Localization

Description

The company, listed on Nasdaq as KDK and founded in 2018, works on Physical AI, building self-driving technology for machines that move.

Its autonomous system suits many vehicle types and pairs AI software with modular hardware. It already runs in long-haul trucking, industrial trucking and defense.

In 2024 the company began commercial driverless operations with nobody in the cab, and it plans a driverless long-haul route between Dallas and Houston by the end of 2026.

Partners include Bosch for scaled hardware production and AWS. Customers include Atlas Energy Solutions, IKEA, Bridgestone, Werner Enterprises, C.R. England, Roehl Transport and General Dynamics Land Systems.

This Staff Engineer sits on the Calibration, Localization and Mapping team and sets technical direction in state estimation, inertial navigation and sensed odometry across the team and wider organization.

Responsibilities

• Define the technical strategy and architecture for onboard navigation and pose estimation.
• Lead the design of sensor fusion and pose estimation across IMU, camera and lidar, spotting failure modes before they appear in the field.
• Steer visual and lidar odometry work, weighing whether to build or adopt new techniques.
• Set the navigation metrics and evaluation methods the organization uses to judge algorithms and systems, and promote their use.
• Act as the go-to technical escalation point for complex, unclear or cross-cutting localization problems.
• Assess sensor performance and choose the best sensor mix.
• Check sensor calibrations, settings and uncertainty models.

Requirements

• Hold a BS, MS or PhD and have academic or industry experience building navigation, localization or odometry systems.
• Be an expert in C++ with strong problem-solving skills.
• Have built highly reliable deployed software and write well-designed, easy-to-maintain code.
• Have deep experience turning raw GNSS, IMU, wheel speed and similar data into 6-DOF pose using Kalman filters, factor graphs or comparable state estimation, and know when each fits.
• Have experience with computer vision, visual odometry, or odometry from point clouds.
• Have a record of mentoring engineers and raising a team's technical practice.
• Take ownership as a team member and care about how the whole system performs across engineering disciplines.
• Build and iterate quickly, and create lasting infrastructure components from scratch.
• Be hands-on, curious and flexible, and willing to learn new domains to deliver complete system-wide solutions.
• Communicate clearly, writing concise design documents that draw team feedback toward the best solution.

Conditions

Base salary range for California (SF/Silicon Valley): $200,000 - $260,000 USD. Actual starting pay depends on work location, experience, relevant training, education, skill level and interview performance, across several internal levels.

The office is centrally located in Mountain View, CA.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits harassment of any kind.

Some roles carry sensitive requirements and may be limited to candidates who pass additional scrutiny, with eligibility possibly depending on verification of residence, U.S. person status and/or citizenship. If a role requires an export license, bars a candidate, or falls under national security restrictions, the company will consider alternative roles unaffected by those limits on terms it sets at its sole discretion, or may decline to proceed. Visa sponsorship may be provided for eligible candidates.

A third-party AI tool, in use since January 1, 2026, helps with initial screening using the job requirements and submitted applications, and may qualify as an automated employment decision tool under applicable rules. Human recruiters make all final hiring decisions. By applying, you accept that AI systems may process your application. To request a separate review, contact the careers team and put 'Separate Review Request' in the subject line.

Benefits

• Pay includes base salary, equity, annual bonuses and benefits.
• Medical, dental and vision plans through Kaiser Permanente, Cigna and MetLife, including a medical plan with infertility benefits.
• MetLife legal services, identity and fraud protection, hospital indemnity, accident insurance and critical illness insurance.
• Flexible PTO, 10 paid holidays and generous parental leave.
• Dog-friendly office with free catered lunch, a fully stocked kitchen and free EV charging.
• Long-term disability, short-term disability and life insurance.
• Wellbeing support: Headspace and Spring Health through Cigna, Calm and One Medical through Kaiser, Gympass, and Rula for mental health navigation.
• Fidelity 401(k).
• Commuter benefit, FSA, dependent care FSA and HSA.
• Incentive programs such as referral bonuses and patent bonuses.