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Mapping & Localization Engineer

FieldAI
4 days ago
Full-time
On-site
Irvine, California, United States
Drone Jobs
FieldAI’s Irvine team is where embodied AI meets real robots, real sensors, and real field deployments. Based in the heart of Southern California’s robotics ecosystem, we build risk-aware, reliable, field-ready AI systems that solve the hardest problems in robotics and unlock the full potential of embodied intelligence. If you want your work to ship, get tested on hardware, and improve through real deployments, Irvine is the place. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-only architectures, combining rigorous engineering with learning systems proven in globally deployed solutions that deliver results today and get better every time our robots run in the field.

What You'll Do

Mapping & Localization

  • Improve ICP/GICP/NDT registration workflows

  • Support SLAM and localization pipelines across mapping systems

  • Improve scan stitching accuracy and mapping robustness

  • Optimize point cloud registration and alignment workflows

  • Improve localization performance across large-scale operational environments

Point Cloud Processing & Optimization

  • Improve point cloud processing performance and scalability

  • Support geometric optimization and scan matching workflows

  • Debug and improve existing mapping and localization systems

  • Contribute to mapping quality and operational reliability improvements

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner closely with mapping, robotics, and deployment teams

  • Support downstream processing and operational deployment workflows

  • Help improve deployment readiness and mapping scalability

  • Contribute to debugging and operational problem-solving across mapping systems

What You Bring

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field

  • 3–5 years of industry or applied robotics experience

  • Strong experience with SLAM and localization systems

  • Experience with ICP/GICP/NDT registration techniques

  • Strong understanding of point cloud registration and scan matching

  • Strong modern C++ engineering skills

  • Experience working within production robotics or mapping environments

  • Strong debugging and systems-thinking capability

  • Ability to operate effectively in fast-moving startup environments

  • Ownership mentality with strong execution and problem-solving instincts

What Sets You Apart

  • Experience with LiDAR-based mapping systems

  • Experience with robotics middleware

  • Background in robotics, autonomy, industrial scanning, or localization systems

  • Familiarity with PCL (Point Cloud Library)

  • Experience balancing research ideas with production engineering realities

  • Strong operational and deployment-oriented mindset

$140,000 - $180,000 a year
Our salary range is generous and we consider each individual’s background and experience when determining final compensation. Base pay may vary based on role scope, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and the Irvine, California market.

Why Join FieldAI in Irvine?
In Irvine, you will work where the robots are. Our local team builds and tests systems on real hardware with real sensors, then ships them to operate in unstructured, previously unknown environments around the world. We are solving one of robotics’ hardest challenges: reliable deployment outside the lab. Our Field Foundational Models™ raise the bar for perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, with an emphasis on explainability and safety for real-world use.
You will collaborate with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. We bring deep experience from organizations such as DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, along with a track record of field deployments and strong performance in DARPA challenge segments.

Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution
We are looking for builders who want their work to leave the whiteboard and show up on robots. If you enjoy tackling tough, uncharted questions and working across disciplines, you will find your people here. Our teams span AI, software, robotics engineering, product, field deployment, and technical communication, all focused on shipping systems that perform in the real world.

Our headquarters is in Irvine, and we partner closely with teams there as well as colleagues across the US and around the world. Join us in Southern California and help define what dependable, field-ready autonomy looks like.

We value diverse perspectives and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We evaluate candidates and employees based on merit, qualifications, and performance, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected statu
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.