---
title: 'Senior Localization Software Engineer at Theseus Technology Corp'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-localization-software-engineer-theseus-technology-corp-san-francisco-nfk0h98gssfr'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-11'
---

# Senior Localization Software Engineer at Theseus Technology Corp

- **Company:** Theseus Technology Corp
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Compensation:** $200k–$260k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-03-28
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11
- **Apply:** https://jobs.gem.com/theseus-us/am9icG9zdDqbYNqxkoMraVRd0jtamMI-

## Job description

## Who we are

Theseus is a defense technology company building visual positioning to solve reliability for the next 10 million drones. We’re laser focused on solving localization on today's GPS-denied battlefield because we think it’s the biggest blocker to physical intelligence on drones.

Our products are already being used in real operational environments today. We’re a small team with high ownership and accountability, and we’re looking for engineers who want to move fast, build against real-world constraints, and see their work deployed in the field.

## The role

We’re seeking a Senior Localization Software Engineer to help build the core of our autonomy stack. You’ll lead development of visual positioning systems that improve the accuracy, robustness, and reliability of Theseus’ products across sensors, onboard compute, and drone platforms.

This role is for someone who can independently own major parts of the localization stack, drive technical decisions, and take systems from concept through deployment in real-world conditions.

You will:

- Own major localization problems end to end, from algorithm design through deployment, testing, and iteration
- Improve visual localization, map matching, and sensor fusion systems for GPS-denied environments across diverse sensor inputs
- Build tooling, data pipelines, and evaluation frameworks that accelerate development and make system performance observable
- Drive architecture decisions across the localization stack, balancing accuracy, robustness, latency, and onboard compute constraints
- Test, debug, and refine systems in simulation and real-world flight conditions

You should have the following

- 4+ years of experience working on robotic localization (e.g., SLAM, VIO, map matching) with a proven track record of taking systems through a full development lifecycle
- Deep understanding of localization algorithms and onboard sensor modalities, including IMU, camera, barometer, and compass
- Demonstrated ability to drive architecture decisions and make sound technical tradeoffs
- Strong software engineering skills in C++ and Python
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills

## Nice to have

- Background shipping localization software on drones or other autonomous hardware platforms
- Familiarity with ArduPilot, PX4, or related drone software stacks
- Track record of optimizing localization or perception systems for edge compute environments
- Comfort building data, evaluation, or validation pipelines for robotics systems

## About Theseus Technology Corp

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Theseus builds software-first visual positioning systems for drones operating in GPS-denied environments, enabling reliable navigation when GPS is jammed, spoofed, or unavailable.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Pre-Seed round in 2024, Seed round in 2025)
- **Headquarters**: Stanford, CA / San Francisco, United States
- **Founded**: March 2024
- **Founders**: Ian Laffey (CEO) and Sacha Lévy (CTO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Defense and Space Manufacturing
- **Target customers**: B2B – primarily U.S. Department of Defense, Special Operations Command (SOCOM), and drone manufacturers
- **Mission**: To keep humans far from the battlefield and ensure reliable position when GPS is jammed, spoofed, or gone.

## Products & Services
- **Micro Visual Positioning System (VPS) / Visual Navigation System (VNS)**: A software-only, passive system that uses onboard cameras, inertial sensors, and pre-loaded satellite imagery to compute position fixes. It sends a fake GPS signal to any drone, enabling operation in contested environments. Integrations typically take less than 30 minutes. The system is low-cost, lightweight, and has no RF signature.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Total Funding**: $4,925,000 (Pre-Seed $500K led by Y Combinator, Seed $4.3M led by First Round Capital)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Y Combinator (first defense company accepted into the program), First Round Capital, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
- **Growth Signals**: 116.7% headcount growth (now 8 employees); first unit shipped to a DoD customer in August 2024; multiple customers; six-figure letters of intent from large drone manufacturers; $8 million in funding requested by the DoD for FY25 for the VNS system.

## Competitive Advantages
- First-ever defense company accepted into Y Combinator, giving access to a strong network and rapid iteration methodology.
- Passive, low-cost, lightweight alternative to bulky GPS replacements – no RF signature, cannot be jammed.
- Proven in real-world contested environments (tested by USSOCOM, deployed in Ukraine-like scenarios).
- Software-first approach allows rapid integration with existing drone platforms (<30 min).

## Strategic Focus
- Scale up production to meet the demand for millions of drones per year, especially for Western allies.
- Continue refining the Micro VPS accuracy and reliability while reducing cost.
- Expand customer base across DoD branches and allied nations, and target large drone manufacturers for integration.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: High ownership, fast-moving, small team (7-8 people) where every engineer’s work is deployed immediately. “Test constantly, move fast, build for real users in contested environments.”
- **Work Environment**: On-site presence in San Francisco/Stanford area; close collaboration with military operators and hardware teams.
- **Notable Perks**: Work on software that directly impacts national security; be part of a YC-backed startup that is pushing the boundaries of visual autonomy; opportunity to shape the product from the ground up.

## Sources
1. [Theseus About Page](https://www.theseus.us/about)
2. [Theseus Careers Page](https://www.theseus.us/careers)
3. [HigherGov – Theseus Technology Corporation](https://www.highergov.com/awardee/theseus-technology-corporation-782067117/)
4. [LinkedIn – Theseus Company Profile](https://linkedin.com/company/theseustech)
5. [Y Combinator – Theseus Profile](https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/theseus)

## Other roles at Theseus Technology Corp

- [Senior Navigation Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-navigation-software-engineer-theseus-technology-corp-san-francisco-fn8qjvnjmxzp) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-theseus-technology-corp-san-francisco-tjctt5q1nwjt) — San Francisco, CA
- [Localization Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/localization-software-engineer-theseus-technology-corp-san-francisco-x3f86qgm5q5g) — San Francisco, CA