Software Development Engineer II, Search

Mapbox is the leading real-time location platform for a new generation of location-aware businesses. As a Software Engineer on the Offline Search team, you will be responsible for developing high-performance search algorithms for mobile and automotive applications, ensuring seamless operation without network connectivity.

Responsibilities:

• Design, code, and optimize core search algorithms tailored for on-device execution, ensuring high-speed query resolution under strict CPU, memory, and storage constraints
• Take ownership of complex offline data delivery systems, designing and implementing advanced tile compression techniques (e.g., Zstd) and efficient delta update pipelines to minimize payload sizes
• Collaborate across multiple R&D and backend teams to seamlessly integrate data processing pipelines and ensure parity between our cloud and offline search products
• Engage directly with trend-setting automotive OEMs in EU, US, Japan, and China, as well as suppliers like automotive Tier 1 companies and Mapping firms to understand hardware specifications, troubleshoot integration challenges, and align technical deliverables with their rollout schedules
• Collect and monitor deep system telemetry to evaluate performance tradeoffs (e.g., CPU utilization vs. query latency), establish baselines, and drive continuous architectural improvements
• Play a key role in defining the technical roadmap, scoping complex features, and writing technical design documents for next-generation offline search capabilities

Requirements:

• You are located in the Eastern Time Zone
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
• Strong proficiency in C++ (our core engine language), with a solid understanding of memory management, multi-threading, and systems-level programming
• Experience with Python or other scripting languages commonly used for tooling, data processing, or test automation
• Proven experience analyzing and optimizing code for performance-constrained environments, thoughtfully balancing tradeoffs between CPU utilization, memory consumption, and query latency
• Familiarity with data structures, algorithmic efficiency, and binary data formats (experience with data compression like Zstd or delta update mechanisms is a strong plus)
• Strong analytical thinking and the ability to justify technical decisions using system telemetry and data
• Meticulous attention to detail and a creative, resourceful approach to problem-solving
• Excellent communication skills in English, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional engineering, product, and data teams
• Prior experience in the mapping, navigation, or automotive industry
• Knowledge of machine learning techniques for geospatial data analysis
• Contributions to open-source geospatial or data analysis projects