Staff Geospatial Software Engineer- Large Driving Model, Motion Planning, Autonomy

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

We are seeking a Staff Geospatial Data Engineer to lead the architectural evolution of geospatial data prep and routing infrastructure for our Large Driving Model (LDM). In this role, you will bridge the gap between complex digital map representations, routing engines, and data pipelines for large-scale AI training. Your primary focus will be designing and optimizing high-throughput route processing systems, map-matching algorithms, and interfaces that transform raw spatial topology into ML-ready representations for onboard and offboard pipelines.

This is a high-impact position sitting at the intersection of spatial data engineering, graph algorithms, and production-grade AI infrastructure. You will be directly responsible for the C++ and Python development required to process massive routing graphs efficiently, ensuring seamless integration between map data and model inputs.

If you are a seasoned engineer with a deep algorithmic foundation in routing, map interactions, and a data-first mindset, we want to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Route Processing Pipeline Architecture: Design, build, and own high-performance software related to route processing part of the data pipeline which serves as the foundational data preparation layer for our Large Driving Model (LDM).
• Routing Engine Integration: Lead the integration, customization, and optimization of spatial frameworks and routing engines to support complex driving scenarios and route parsing.
• Data Prep & Map Quality: Establish techniques to clean, validate, align, and enrich map features, minimizing data discrepancies between offboard training data prep and onboard deployment.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with ML Infrastructure, Motion Planning, Localization, Mapping, and Simulation teams to define clean data interfaces and translate topological map data into effective model features.
• Technical Leadership: Act as a key technical authority on route data processing, spatial graphs, and routing architecture. Mentor junior engineers, establish best practices for spatial data handling, and define the long-term roadmap.
• Foster Engineering Excellence: Champion a culture of production-grade C++ and Python code, ensuring the route processing codebase is modular, scalable, thoroughly tested, and performant.

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of industry experience developing high-performance route processing algorithms, GIS/spatial data pipelines, or routing systems for autonomous platforms or large-scale mapping products.
• Expert C++ & Python: Mastery of production-grade C++ (data structures, memory management, multi-threading) alongside Python for data engineering, automation, and rapid prototyping.
• Routing & Map Algorithms: Deep technical foundation in spatial graph algorithms (A*, Dijkstra, contraction hierarchies), map-matching, spatial indexing, and topological data manipulation.
• Routing Engines & Map Formats: Hands-on experience with OpenStreetMap (OSM) data structures and modern open-source routing engines (e.g., Valhalla, OSRM) is a strong plus.
• Localization & Autonomous Context: Familiarity with localization concepts, spatial coordinate transformations, and HD/SD map abstractions within autonomous driving stacks.
• Leadership & Communication: Proven track record leading complex software projects, building technical consensus, and mentoring engineering peers.
• Hands-on Approach: Proactively identifies data bottlenecks in the LDM pipeline and "rolls up sleeves" to design and implement robust algorithmic solutions.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $228,000.00 - $285,000.00 for California 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.

The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards.

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.

You can apply for this role through careers.rivian.com (or through internal-careers-rivian.icims.com if you are a current employee). This job is not expected to be closed any sooner than October 31, 2026.

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 [email protected].

Candidate Data Privacy and Technology

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.

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role.

AI does not make hiring decisions: Qualified candidate applications are reviewed by a member of our team, and all decisions throughout the process are made by humans. We use AI to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgment. We are committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate.

Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system. Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.