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Map Localization Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Map Localization information

What is the difference between Map Localization vs GIS Technician?

AspectMap LocalizationGIS Technician
Required CredentialsGPS, GIS, or mapping software certificationsGIS certifications, degree in geography or related field
Work EnvironmentFieldwork, outdoor mapping, mobile devicesOffice-based, desktop GIS software
Employer & Industry UsageNavigation apps, autonomous vehicles, outdoor mappingUrban planning, environmental management, utilities
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding field mapping rolesTechnical GIS data management

Map Localization focuses on real-time positioning and navigation, often in outdoor or mobile environments, using GPS and mapping tools. GIS Technicians handle spatial data analysis, map creation, and GIS software management primarily in office settings. While both roles involve geographic data, Map Localization emphasizes field-based positioning, whereas GIS Technicians focus on data processing and map development.

What is map localization?

Map localization is the process of determining a device's or vehicle’s precise position within a known map or environment. It is a crucial component in robotics, autonomous vehicles, and navigation systems, allowing them to understand their location relative to their surroundings. Accurate map localization enables systems to navigate safely, avoid obstacles, and perform tasks efficiently. This process often uses sensors like GPS, LiDAR, cameras, and algorithms such as SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping).

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in map localization roles?

Professionals in map localization often encounter challenges such as managing the accuracy of real-time data from multiple sources and ensuring that maps remain up-to-date with constantly changing environments. Additionally, working with large volumes of geospatial data requires strong analytical and technical skills, especially when integrating information from LiDAR, GPS, and camera systems. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as software developers and robotics engineers, is essential to solve localization issues and to deliver reliable navigation solutions. Staying current with advances in localization algorithms and mapping technologies is also important for ongoing success in this field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Map Localization Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Map Localization Engineer, you need a strong background in robotics, computer vision, and algorithms, often supported by a degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field. Proficiency with tools and frameworks such as ROS (Robot Operating System), SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), and programming languages like C++ and Python is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating on complex projects and debugging localization systems. These skills are crucial for developing accurate and reliable localization solutions that enable autonomous navigation and mapping in real-world environments.
What job categories do people searching Map Localization jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Map Localization jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Map Localization jobs? Cities in California with the most Map Localization job openings:
Infographic showing various Map Localization job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution.
Sr. Staff Software Engineer, Pose, Localization & Calibration, Autonomy

Sr. Staff Software Engineer, Pose, Localization & Calibration, Autonomy

Rivian

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

$265K - $331K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 3 hours ago


Rivian rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 158 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

21st of 44 rated automakers


Job description

About Rivian
Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.
As a company, we constantly challenge what's possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.
Role Summary
Our Pose Team is a diverse group of algorithm developers / software engineers focused on delivering mapping, localization, and calibration solutions hosted on the vehicle and in the Cloud. Pose is a core capability of the autonomy stack delivering products to Perception, Prediction, Planning, Control, and others. As a Sr. Software Engineer on the Pose team, you will work on a wide variety of localization and calibration problems including real-time algorithm development on the vehicle.
Responsibilities
  • Technical leadership: Define, review, and refactor the architecture, algorithms, and frameworks for solving pose, calibration, and SLAM problems. The problems we work on involve processing and fusing input data from multiple sensors including GNSS, IMU, wheel / radar / visual / lidar odometry to produce state-of-the-art global and relative localization systems. We also work on the calibration of sensors going into these algorithms.
  • Implementation leadership: Implement these algorithms and frameworks in C++. Mentor junior engineers involved in the implementation, and help drive our standards for high-quality, high-performance, scalable autonomy software.
  • Integrating these algorithms into our autonomous vehicle architecture, including migrating these algorithms to real-time embedded systems, and integrity monitoring.
  • Evaluation: help define and develop pipelines to evaluate and iterate on our algorithms at scale.
  • Our team is responsible for interfacing directly with suppliers, interfacing with our software, hardware, and vehicle design teams, developing safety-critical localization algorithms for any environment.

Qualifications
  • M.S. or Ph.D. in Aerospace, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science or a related field.
  • 7+ years of robotics, AV (Autonomous Vehicle), or other real-time, safety-critical experience.
  • Research and development experience in one or more of the following areas:
    • Stochastic estimation/state estimation/Kalman filtering
    • SLAM / Factor Graphs
    • Sensor fusion
    • Sensor calibration
    • Autonomous Vehicles/ADAS
  • Strong C/C++ programming skills and experience
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced development environment
  • Good team player with great communication skills
  • Passionately motivated to take ideas from R&D phase to a product

Preferred Qualifications
  • Sensor fusion / SLAM with IMU and/or Odometry
  • Non-linear optimization, batch estimation, factor graphs, ground truth algorithms
  • Prototyping real-time applications
  • Adapting algorithms for real world use cases, considering corner cases, using imperfect data
  • Embedded software development and optimization experience
  • Software development for safety critical systems (ISO 26262)
  • Experience with IMU, camera, LiDAR, radar, computer vision

Pay Disclosure
The salary range for this role is $265,000-331,300 for San Francisco Bay Area based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian's 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.
Equal Opportunity
Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.
Candidate Data Privacy
Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes ("Candidate Personal Data"). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.
Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian's service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.
Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.
Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.

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About Rivian

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Rivian is a pioneering automotive industry player headquartered in Irvine, California. Established in 2009, the company has made notable advancements in developing sustainable transportation solutions. It is widely recognized for its electric adventure vehicles: the R1T pickup and the R1S SUV. Rivian is dedicated to creating a positive shift in societal mobility and emphasizes sustainability, innovation, and adventure as part of its core values. Their mission is to keep the world adventurous forever - a testament to their commitment in transitioning the world to sustainable transportation. Rivian's achievements are numerous, with one of the most notable being securing a significant multi-billion dollar investment from Amazon for the production of electric delivery vans.

Industry

Automobile dealers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Irvine, CA, US

Year founded

2009