Senior/Staff Research Engineer, Localization & Mapping (SLAM)

Who we are:

Gatik, the leader in autonomous middle mile logistics, delivers goods safely and efficiently using its fleet of light & medium-duty trucks. The company focuses on short-haul, B2B logistics for Fortune 500 customers including Kroger, Walmart, Tyson Foods, Loblaw, Pitney Bowes, Georgia-Pacific, and KBX; enabling them to optimize their hub-and-spoke supply chain operations, enhance service levels and product flow across multiple locations while reducing labor costs and meeting an unprecedented expectation for faster deliveries. Gatik’s Class 3-7 autonomous box trucks are commercially deployed in multiple markets including Texas, Arkansas, and Ontario, Canada.

About the role:

We are seeking senior or staff research engineers for our localization and mapping team to build state-of-the-art mapping pipelines that combine data from a wide variety of sensors and localization algorithms that use these maps in real-time. This role is critical to enhancing the precision, robustness, and reliability of our self-driving trucks. You will be tasked with tackling some of the most challenging problems in autonomous navigation, working at the intersection of robotics, computer vision, and machine learning.

What you'll do:

• Develop mapping algorithms and create a robust mapping pipeline that supports the building of high definition maps at large scale
• Innovate in the area of localization, designing systems capable of centimeter-level accuracy using a blend of traditional and novel sensor fusion techniques, including but not limited to LIDAR, radar, cameras, and IMU data
• Implement and optimize simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithms for dynamic and large-scale environments, ensuring robust performance under diverse weather and lighting conditions
• Contribute to the development of tools for map generation, simulation, and testing, enhancing the speed and efficiency of our mapping and localization pipeline
• Work closely with the perception, planning, and control teams to ensure seamless integration of the mapping and localization subsystems within the autonomous driving stack
• Analyze and architect safety and redundancy in the localization system
• Own and drive highly visible performance metrics (e.g. latency, memory, bandwidth, power)
• Author technical reports, patent applications, and academic papers, contributing to the company’s intellectual property and research profile

What we're looking for:

• PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a closely related field, with a focus on mapping, localization, or SLAM
• Advanced proficiency in C/C++ and Python, with experience in developing high-performance algorithms in a Linux environment
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in a research or R&D setting, with a proven track record in autonomous systems, robotics, or computer vision
• Experience with pose estimation, probabilistic filtering, non-linear optimization, and large-scale 3D data
• Expert-level knowledge of SLAM - frontend and backend, point cloud registration, GNSS/INS
• Hands-on experience with sensor calibration, data fusion algorithms, and the integration of various sensors (e.g., LIDAR, radar, cameras) for vehicle localization
• Deep understanding of geometric and probabilistic algorithms for mapping and localization, and familiarity with the latest research and trends in the field
• Demonstrated experience with robotics software development tools such as ROS, Autoware, or similar, and familiarity with machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch
• Research background in SLAM and/or publications in localization and mapping applications

More about Gatik:

With headquarters in Mountain View, CA and offices in Canada, Texas and Arkansas. Gatik is establishing new standards of success for the autonomous trucking industry every day. Visit us at Gatik for more company information and Jobs @ Gatik for more open roles.   Gatik News:

• Gatik AI Website
• Tyson Foods Takes First Taste Of Autonomous With Gatik
• Forbes Cover featuring Gautam Narang 2023
• The 10 most innovative companies in transportation of 2023
• Gatik and Kroger multi-year commercial collaboration
• America’s Best Startup Employers of 2023 by Forbes
• America’s Best Startup Employers of 2022 by Forbes
• Gatik been named as a 2023 FreightTech 25 winner!
• Gatik named a TIME Best Invention of 2022
• Apeksha Kumavat recognized on the Inc. 2022 Female Founders 100 List

  Taking care of our team: At Gatik, we connect people of extraordinary talent and experience to an opportunity to create a more resilient supply chain and contribute to our environment’s sustainability. We are diverse in our backgrounds and perspectives yet united by a bold vision and shared commitment to our values. Our culture emphasizes the importance of collaboration, respect and agility.   We at Gatik strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels they have opportunities to succeed and grow because we know that together we can do great things. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse team. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status or any legally protected status.