Staff Robotics Engineer, Localization

Wayve • Sunnyvale, CA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Wayve’s Robotics team bridges its AI model and vehicle platforms, providing high-quality data for driving decisions while abstracting platform-specific details. The team combines theoretical robotics expertise with practical engineering across research and production.

The Staff Robotics Engineer, Localization will lead the technical development of Wayve’s onboard localization capability. This senior individual-contributor role is responsible for shaping the localization architecture and roadmap and for designing and productionizing state-estimation systems that combine GNSS, IMU, and wheel-odometry measurements to provide accurate, reliable vehicle motion and pose estimates. The systems may also incorporate camera, RADAR, and LiDAR measurements.

The role spans algorithm design, prototyping, production implementation, validation, and deployment on real-time vehicle platforms. It includes developing fault handling and degraded-mode behavior and rigorous validation and benchmarking using representative datasets, ground-truth comparisons, performance metrics, and regression testing. The engineer will work across robotics, calibration, controls, sensor, vehicle-platform, and embedded-software teams to ensure localization is robust, observable, and suitable for production use, while providing hands-on technical leadership and mentorship.

Wayve builds an end-to-end AI platform for autonomous driving that learns from real-world experience rather than relying on hand-coded rules or pre-mapped environments. Its mapless, hardware-agnostic platform works with global OEM partners and supports automation from L2+ through L4. Wayve describes its working environment as hybrid, combining in-person collaboration in office hubs with remote work. The company notes that its processes are still evolving and emphasizes ownership, inclusion, and collaboration.

Requirements

• Deep practical expertise in localization, state estimation, or sensor fusion, including experience combining GNSS, IMU, and wheel-odometry measurements.
• Strong understanding of filtering-based estimation methods, including Kalman-family filters such as EKF or UKF, and nonlinear optimization approaches such as factor graphs.
• Experience developing and operating localization or state-estimation systems in production robotics, autonomous vehicles, or comparable real-time systems.
• Strong modern C++ software-engineering skills.
• Proficiency in Python for prototyping, analysis, validation, and test tooling.
• Experience designing rigorous localization validation and benchmarking, including accuracy metrics, uncertainty evaluation, ground-truth comparison, regression testing, and failure analysis.
• Evidence of hands-on technical leadership, including defining architecture, influencing technical roadmaps, mentoring engineers, and collaborating across multiple teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience incorporating camera-, LiDAR-, or RADAR-based measurements into localization and sensor-fusion systems, including visual, LiDAR, or RADAR odometry.
• Hands-on experience with nonlinear optimization and robotics libraries such as GTSAM, Ceres, or g2o.
• Familiarity with automotive software-development practices and coding standards, including MISRA C++.
• Experience deploying state-estimation software on embedded or resource-constrained platforms with real-time compute, memory, and latency requirements.
• Experience developing high-quality ground truth, benchmarks, and validation evidence for localization or other state-estimation systems.
• Familiarity with robotics tooling and libraries such as ROS, Eigen, OpenCV, PCL, or CUDA.
• MS or PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the technical architecture and roadmap for onboard localization, aligned with vehicle programmes and product requirements.
• Lead the development of robust state-estimation systems that fuse GNSS, IMU, and wheel-odometry signals, with scope to incorporate camera-, RADAR-, and LiDAR-based measurements.
• Take localization solutions from algorithm design and prototyping through production implementation and deployment on real-time vehicle platforms.
• Develop robust fault handling and degraded-mode behavior.
• Develop localization validation and benchmarking capabilities, including representative datasets, ground-truth comparisons, performance metrics, and regression testing across vehicles, environments, and operating conditions.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership and mentorship to engineers working across localization and the broader state-estimation stack.
• Collaborate with robotics, calibration, controls, sensor, vehicle-platform, and embedded-software teams to drive integration and resolve system-level issues.
• Ensure localization is robust, observable, and suitable for real-time production use.

Benefits

• Salaries benchmarked against the market annually.
• Meaningful equity, sharing in the ownership and long-term success of Wayve.
• Relocation support and visa sponsorship where applicable.
• Hybrid working, core hours, and the chance to work hands-on in vehicle workshops and labs.
• Learning and development budgets with support for training, conferences, and growth.
• Comprehensive benefits including health insurance, dental, enhanced maternity and paternity leave, retirement or pension where applicable, access to therapists, wellbeing partnerships, and team socials.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed