# Staff Engineer, State Estimation (Dallas/San Diego/Boston/DC/San Fran)
**Company:** [Shield AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/shield-ai)
**Location:** Dallas, TX, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, Boston, MA
**Salary:** $188K-$281K
**Experience:** 7+ years
**Skills:** C++, Linux, Kalman Filters, Ekf, Ukf, Particle Filters, Imus, Gnss, Visual Odometry, CUDA, Fpgas
**Posted:** 2025-06-02
> Develops and deploys real-time state estimation and sensor fusion algorithms for autonomous UAV navigation in GPS-denied environments. Requires 7+ years experience, C++ proficiency, and expertise in filtering techniques like Kalman filters.
## Job Description
## Responsibilities
- Develop and implement real-time state estimation algorithms including inertial navigation, sensor fusion, and alternative navigation methods for GPS-denied or degraded environments.
- Integrate data from IMUs, GNSS receivers, visual odometry, magnetometers, barometers, and radar into robust estimation frameworks.
- Design sensor processing pipelines focused on accuracy, robustness, and system-level fault tolerance.
- Collaborate with autonomy, software, and hardware teams to ensure end-to-end integration of navigation and PNT systems.
- Conduct simulation, lab testing, and field trials to evaluate algorithm performance under real-world conditions.
- Stay current on advancements in state estimation and navigation technologies and help adapt new innovations into deployable solutions.

## Required Qualifications
- Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience with a bachelor's degree; or 6 years with a master's degree; or 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience developing and deploying real-time navigation or sensor fusion algorithms using IMUs, GPS, or other sensors.
- Strong understanding of filtering and estimation techniques (**Kalman filters**, **EKF**, **UKF**, **particle filters**).
- Proficient in **C++11** or newer in real-time environments.
- Comfortable working in **Linux**, with experience using standard command-line tools and scripting.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with a collaborative mindset.
- Demonstrated success working in fast-paced development cycles and delivering high-quality results.

## Preferred Qualifications
- Experience implementing inertial navigation algorithms in degraded or GPS-denied conditions.
- Exposure to visual odometry or computer vision-based navigation approaches.
- Experience optimizing code for performance on compute-constrained platforms.
- Familiarity with **CUDA** or hardware acceleration techniques (**FPGAs**).
- Experience transitioning navigation solutions from research into production environments.
**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/staff-engineer-state-estimation-dallas-san-diego-boston-dc-san-fran-at-shield-ai-9bf4df10-28d3-46bf-a745-3c1037c56640
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/staff-engineer-state-estimation-dallas-san-diego-boston-dc-san-fran-at-shield-ai-9bf4df10-28d3-46bf-a745-3c1037c56640