Lead SLAM & Positioning Architect for Production Robotics

Role Overview As Principal Robotics SLAM and Positioning Lead, you will be the technical owner and architect for Qualcomm’s core localization and mapping services. You will define, build, and evolve a modular, service-oriented SLAM and state estimation stack that operates reliably across diverse robots, sensors, environments, and deployment scales. This role requires deep hands‑on expertise in SLAM, sensor fusion, calibration, and system observability, combined with strong architectural judgment and cross‑team leadership. You will work closely with robotics middleware, perception, controls, hardware, simulation, and cloud teams to deliver production‑ready capabilities that customers can deploy confidently at scale. Key Responsibilities Own the end‑to‑end architecture for Qualcomm’s SLAM and positioning services, defining clear service boundaries, APIs, data contracts, and performance envelopes. Drive the transition from algorithm prototypes to robust, production‑grade services suitable for long‑running robotic deployments. Establish design principles for determinism, observability, recoverability, and scalability across on‑device and fleet deployments. Lead the design and implementation of core services: calibration, state estimation/fusion, localization, SLAM & map management, re‑localization & recovery, diagnostics & health monitoring. Ensure continuous monitoring of localization quality, drift, observability, and sensor health, exposing metrics, logs, and alerts for fleet‑scale operations and debugging. Partner with robotics middleware, controls, perception, and hardware teams to ensure seamless integration with navigation, planning, and manipulation stacks. Collaborate with simulation and validation teams to define regression suites, KPIs, and benchmarking methodologies. Influence product roadmaps by translating customer requirements and field learnings into architectural decisions. Establish SLAM KPIs for accuracy, robustness, latency, and recovery behavior across platforms. Drive CI/CD practices, test automation, and release readiness criteria for localization services. Optimize algorithms and pipelines for Qualcomm SoCs using heterogeneous compute efficiently. Core Services Development Calibration Service : Online and offline calibration for cameras, IMUs, LiDARs, and other sensors, including temporal, intrinsic, extrinsic, and drift calibration with validation and health metrics. State Estimation / Fusion Service : Real‑time multi‑sensor fusion (VIO/VSLAM/LiDAR‑inertial/GNSS where applicable) using factor‑graph or filter‑based estimation with bounded latency and fault tolerance. Localization Service : High‑accuracy localization against local and global maps, supporting multi‑session, multi‑map, and multi‑floor environments. SLAM & Map Management Service : Consistent map generation, update, merging, and lifecycle management with interfaces for map versioning, distribution, and cloud‑assisted workflows. Re‑localization & Recovery Service : Robust handling of tracking loss, kidnaps, sensor dropouts, and degraded conditions with fast recovery paths and confidence estimation. Diagnostics & Health Monitoring : Continuous monitoring of localization quality, drift, observability, and sensor health with exposed metrics, logs, and alerts. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience, OR Master’s degree and 5+ years, OR PhD and 4+ years. Preferred Qualifications 8+ years of experience developing SLAM, localization, or state estimation systems for real‑world robotic or autonomous platforms. Strong proficiency in C++ with production‑grade software engineering practices. Deep understanding of multi‑sensor fusion, calibration, and probabilistic estimation. Experience delivering systems that run continuously on real robots, not just in research prototypes. Experience with service‑oriented or middleware‑centric robotics architectures (e.g., ROS2/DDS‑based systems). Familiarity with map lifecycle management, fleet‑scale localization, or cloud‑assisted robotics workflows. Background in diagnostics, observability, or health monitoring for safety‑critical systems. Experience optimizing robotics workloads on embedded or heterogeneous compute platforms. Track record of technical leadership influencing architecture across multiple teams. Why You’ll Love This Role Own one of the most critical technical pillars of Qualcomm’s robotics platform. Work on challenging, real‑world autonomy problems at scale. Influence how SLAM and positioning are productized for the next generation of robots. Collaborate with experts across AI, systems, silicon, and robotics. Competitive compensation, growth opportunities, and the chance to shape the future of physical AI. Pay Range And Other Compensation & Benefits $198,600.00 – $297,800.00. In addition to base salary, eligible employees may receive a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants. Benefits package includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, and other standard offerings. EEO and Disability Accommodations Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, contact View email address on click.appcast.io . #J-18808-Ljbffr Qualcomm