Senior/Staff GIS Engineer, HD Mapping

Who we are 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. About the role We are seeking a highly motivated and technically proficient GIS Engineer, HD Mapping to join our team. As a Geospatial / HD Mapping Engineer, you will be a key contributor to the expansion and optimization of our HD Mapping production pipeline. This hands-on role involves working with large-scale LiDAR and camera datasets, developing geospatial processing workflows, and improving our routing and topology validation systems. You will collaborate closely with internal teams and external partners to deliver high-quality maps under tight operational timelines. This position requires a deep passion for geospatial data, strong software engineering skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced production environment.Key Responsibilities: HD Mapping & Spatial Data Production This role is onsite 5 days/week in our Mountain View, CA office! What you'll do 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 What we're looking for 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 Bonus Qualifications 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 More about Gatik 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 softw