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NVIDIA

Lead Algorithm Engineer, Map-Perception Fusion

NVIDIA
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remote senior full-time Santa Clara

First indexed 27 May 2026

Description

Are you driven to shape the future of autonomous vehicles at scale? Join our DRIVE Road Structure, Online Mapping, and Context Fusion team and lead the development of next-generation self-driving technologies.

In this role, you will partner with cross-functional engineering leaders to architect and deliver advanced 3D world models that fuse map and perception data, enabling safe, intelligent navigation across complex road systems in the U.S. and China.

This is an opportunity to take technical ownership of critical systems and influence the direction of autonomous driving at the core of our platform.

Responsibilities:

  • Lead Core Autonomous Driving Systems: Own the design, development, and evolution of systems that integrate cutting-edge perception and mapping technologies across diverse driving environments.
  • Architect Real-Time 3D World Models: Drive the creation of scalable, real-time 3D representations by fusing multi-modal sensor data and external sources to support robust planning and navigation.
  • Advance Mapless Driving Capabilities: Spearhead the development and processing of enriched bird’s-eye-view (BEV) model outputs, reducing reliance on HD maps and enabling autonomy in highly dynamic urban environments.
  • Elevate Scenario Understanding: Define and implement approaches for static obstacle modeling, occupancy grids, and occlusion reasoning to improve environmental awareness and decision-making.
  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborate closely with perception, planning, and platform teams; mentor engineers; and help align technical strategy across organizations.
  • Set Engineering Standards: Champion high-quality, production-grade code and enforce best practices aligned with automotive safety, reliability, and scalability requirements.

Requirements:

  • PhD with 6+ years, MS (or equivalent experience) with 10+ years of relevant experience in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
  • Proven track record of leading complex software systems, ideally in robotics, autonomous vehicles, or related domains.
  • Strong expertise in system design, real-time processing, and scalable software architectures.
  • Demonstrated ability to drive technical direction, mentor engineers, and deliver results in ambiguous environments.
  • Excellent problem-solving, communication, and cross-team collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Deep expertise in 3D geometry, computer vision, sensor calibration, or state estimation (e.g., Kalman or particle filters).
  • Experience leading real-time computer vision or perception systems in production environments.
  • Strong background in API design, software frameworks, and platform-level thinking.

At NVIDIA, we are committed to making autonomous driving a reality and believe this technology has the potential to save millions of lives. You will join a team of world-class innovators tackling one of the most impactful challenges of our time. With the scale, resources, and ambition to lead the industry, we are looking for leaders who can turn vision into reality. If you are passionate about building transformative technology and driving meaningful impact, we want to hear from you.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.