Contractual Freelance Python Programmer Jobs in California

Gatik, the leader in autonomous middle-mile logistics, is revolutionizing the B2B supply chain with its autonomous transportation-as-a-service (ATaaS) solution and prioritizing safe, consistent deliveries while streamlining freight movement by reducing congestion. The company focuses on short-haul, B2B logistics for Fortune 500 retailers and in 2021 launched the world's first fully driverless commercial transportation service with Walmart. Gatik's Class 3-7 autonomous trucks are commercially deployed across major markets, including Texas, Arkansas, and Ontario, Canada, driving innovation in freight transportation. 

The company's proprietary Level 4 autonomous technology, Gatik Carrier, is custom-built to transport freight safely and efficiently between pick-up and drop-off locations on the middle mile. With robust capabilities in both highway and urban environments, Gatik Carrier serves as an all-encompassing solution that integrates advanced software and hardware powering the fleet, facilitating effortless integration into customers' logistics operations. 

• Mapping Pipeline Development: Contribute to the design, development, and expansion of the HD Mapping production pipeline.
• Data Processing and Validation:
  Process, clean, and validate large-scale LiDAR point cloud datasets.
  Extract and refine road-based linear and polygonal features.
  Annotate and validate 3D objects and roadway furniture.
  Perform topology validation of road networks (lane connectivity, intersection logic, turn constraints).
• Software Engineering:
  Develop and maintain Python-based geospatial data processing tools (required).
  Contribute to performance-critical components using C++ (optional).
  Manage and process large spatial datasets using cloud infrastructure (Azure preferred).
• Database and Spatial Queries: Work with PostGIS databases to perform advanced spatial queries, including intersection detection, geometry building/transformation, and query optimization.
• Data Management & Collaboration:
  Support data migration, versioning, and format conversion (OSM, OpenDrive, Lanelet).
  Coordinate with remote freelancers and distributed contributors. Work closely with autonomy, perception, and planning engineering teams.
  Manage Jira tickets, contribute to sprint planning, and provide structured progress reports.
  Maintain high quality standards while delivering under tight deadlines

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Geospatial Engineering, Robotics, Civil Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Minimum 3+ years of professional experience in geospatial systems, mapping, or related fields.
• Strong hands-on experience with GIS platforms (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS, MicroStation) and specialized tools (e.g., CloudCompare, MicroStation, OpenCities, TerraSolid, Lidar360).
• Proven experience working with large-scale mapping/geospatial production projects and a strong understanding of LiDAR processing workflows.
• Technical Skills:
  Strong Python programming skills.
  Experience with geospatial libraries (e.g., GDAL, Shapely, GeoPandas).
  Experience with PostGIS, including spatial indexing and query optimization.
  Familiarity with data formats: OSM, Lanelet, OpenDrive, GeoJSON, LAS/LAZ

• Experience in HD Mapping production pipelines for autonomous vehicles.
• Experience validating road network topology and connectivity logic.
• Familiarity with routing algorithms and graph-based road modeling.
• Experience with automation pipelines and CI/CD for geospatial systems.
• Understanding of coordinate systems, projections, and EPSG transformations.
• Experience with sensor calibration workflows (LiDAR + camera).
• Experience managing distributed contributors or remote freelancers

Salary Range- $160,000- $230,000

Founded in 2017 by experts in autonomous vehicle technology, Gatik has rapidly expanded its presence to Mountain View, Dallas-Fort Worth, Arkansas, and Toronto. As the first and only company to achieve fully driverless middle-mile commercial deliveries, Gatik holds a unique and defensible position in the AV industry, with a clear trajectory toward sustainable growth and profitability.

We have delivered complete, proprietary AV technology - an integration of software and hardware - to enable earlier successes for our clients in constrained Level 4 autonomy.  By choosing the middle mile - with defined point-to-point delivery, we have simplified some of the more complex AV challenges, enabling us to achieve full autonomy ahead of competitors. Given extensive knowledge of Gatik's well-defined, fixed route ODDs and hybrid architecture, we are able to hyper-optimize our models with exponentially less data, establish gate-keeping mechanisms to maintain explainability, and ensure continued safety of the system for unmanned operations.

Visit us at Gatik for more company information and Careers at Gatik for more open roles.

• Bloomberg: Autonomous Trucking Firm Gatik Inks Contracts Worth $600 Million
• Forbes: Hundreds' Of Gatik Robot Delivery Trucks Headed For U.S. Roads
• Forbes:Gatik And Loblaw Announce Largest Commercial Deployment Of AV Trucks
• Forbes: Forget robotaxis. Upstart Gatik sees middle-mile deliveries as the path to profitable AVs
• Tech Brew: Gatik AI exec unpacks the regulations that could shape the AV industry
• Business Wire: Gatik Paves the Way for Safe Driverless Operations ('Freight-Only') at Scale with Industry-First Third-Party Safety Assessment Framework
• Auto Futures: Autonomous Trucking Group Gatik Secures Investment From NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS
• Automotive News: Gatik foresees hundreds of self-driving trucks on road soon, and that's just the beginning
• Forbes: Isuzu And Gatik Go All In To Scale Up Driverless Freight Services
• Bloomberg: Autonomous Vehicle Startup Takes Off by Picking Off Easier Routes
• Reuters: Driverless vehicles on limited routes bump along despite US robotaxi scrutiny

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.