Senior AI/ML Engineer - Robot Localization

Job Description

At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We’re turning today’s impossible into tomorrow’s standard—from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features.

Every day, our products move millions of people as we work to make driving safer, smarter, and more connected. Together, we’re shaping the future of transportation on a global scale.

We are seeking a Senior AI/ML Engineer to advance robot localization capabilities for autonomous mobile robots. Localization is foundational to safe, reliable autonomy, enabling robots to understand their position, operate accurately in diverse environments, recover from degraded conditions, and perform consistently as deployments scale.

In this role, you will design, implement, optimize, and deploy localization algorithms and production software across current products, next-generation platforms, and new product enablement initiatives. You will also investigate and resolve field issues in close collaboration with cross-functional robotics and engineering teams.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and improve camera- and LiDAR-based localization algorithms for autonomous mobile robots.

• Apply statistical estimation theory to improve localization accuracy, robustness, recovery behavior, and runtime performance.

• Design and implement pose-graph and factor-graph optimization solutions.

• Optimize localization software to balance accuracy, latency, reliability, and resource utilization on robotic platforms.

• Investigate state-of-the-art place-recognition techniques to improve loop-closure detection and recovery from localization drift.

• Integrate localization capabilities with ROS 2 and other robotics middleware as appropriate.

• Collaborate with engineers across perception, mapping, path planning, controls, platform software, and deployment operations.

• Diagnose field issues, reproduce failures, identify root causes, and deliver production-quality improvements.

• Support localization enablement for new products and platforms, including design, integration, validation, and deployment.

• Follow continuous development and deployment practices for robotic software, including code reviews, automated testing, performance evaluation, and release support.

• Communicate technical decisions, trade-offs, risks, and results clearly to technical and cross-functional stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in robotics, computer science, or a related technical field.

• Three or more years of relevant industry experience.

• Strong expertise in camera- and LiDAR-based localization algorithms.

• Strong understanding of statistical estimation theory and its application to robotics.

• Hands-on experience implementing and debugging pose-graph and factor-graph optimization.

• Experience optimizing localization or robotics software for constrained compute, memory, latency, or real-time requirements.

• Experience developing production-quality software for robotic systems.

• Experience with ROS 2 or another robotics middleware framework.

• Experience with software engineering practices such as version control, code review, automated testing, and continuous integration and deployment.

• Ability to analyze complex system behavior, investigate failures, and develop robust solutions.

• Ability to work effectively across multiple robotics disciplines and product teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in robotics, computer science, or a related technical field.

• Familiarity with perception, mapping, path planning, controls, or other core robotics modules.

• Experience deploying autonomous mobile robot or other autonomous robotics software in diverse real-world environments.

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us 

We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

From day one, we're looking out for your well-being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws. 

We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.

Accommodations

General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.