Full-Time
Staff State Estimation Engineer
Posted on 10/31/2025
Hayden AI
51-200 employees
AI-powered urban traffic management platform
Compensation Overview
$221k - $260k/yr
San Francisco, CA, USA
Hybrid
 Electrical Engineering (1) |
|---|
- Bachelor of Science degree (M.S. or Ph.D. preferred) or the foreign equivalent in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Robotics, Machine Learning, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or a related field.
- 10+ years of experience (8+ with M.S degree, 6+ with Ph.D.) in the position offered, as a software engineer, software engineer intern, or a related state estimation engineer role.
- 10+ years of experience (8+ with M.S degree, 6+ with Ph.D.) with all of the following: programming in C++; designing and developing software; classical ML, Linear Algebra.
- Understanding of stochastic processes, geometric computer vision techniques, and nonlinear/convex optimization algorithms.
- Understanding of various filtering algorithms (Kalman filters, particle filters, etc.) and nonfiltering techniques (nonlinear least squares, IRLS, etc.)
- Understand numerical stability, sensor modeling, and system/noise identification concepts.
- Understand theoretical shortcomings in modern algorithms and problem solve to overcome them.
- Understanding of camera geometry, bundle adjustment, stereo vision, structure from motion, feature tracking, multi-object tracking, IMU integration, factor graphs, etc.
- Published research in computer vision and robotics (if M.S. or Ph.D.).
- Strong leadership and communication skills.
- Experience in technology transfer and commercialization.
- Lead high-impact multidisciplinary projects across teams and work independently to define the scope and work requirements.
- Derive and implement novel, real-time pose estimation algorithms and share the work across a multidisciplinary team.
- Research, develop, and implement algorithms to solve problems such as large-scale mapping, probabilistic object tracking, online/offline sensor calibration, and/or vision-based localization.
- Collaborate with deep learning, device, and cloud teams to improve overall system architectures.
- Manage complex, cross-functional projects from conception to delivery
- Create and maintain comprehensive project roadmaps and technical documentation
- Program and develop software in C++ and perform detailed code reviews for other team members
- Experience deploying SLAM/VIO estimators in a real-world application.
- Experience with multiple sensors such as GPS, IMU, camera, and wheel odometry.
- Experience utilizing/interacting with deep learning approaches to improve results.
- Experience leading a small team of engineers.
Hayden AI builds an autonomous traffic management platform that uses AI to turn public and private vehicles into mobile sensors. Those sensors feed real-time data to create a digital twin of the city, which is used to monitor traffic flow and road safety. The platform primarily serves transit agencies to enforce dedicated bus lanes, boosting rider safety, on-time performance, and reducing operating costs. Hayden AI sells an integrated solution—tech plus services—to city transit agencies and urban planning stakeholders, generating revenue from licensing and partnerships. The company differentiates itself by delivering the first autonomous traffic management platform that blends mobile sensor data with citizen-driven information, backed by patented technology and strategic partnerships (e.g., Conduent). Its goal is to make urban mobility safer and more efficient by providing a comprehensive, data-driven view of traffic conditions and safety issues.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Series C
Total Funding
$193.2M
Headquarters
Oakland, California
Founded
2019
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Santa Monica April 2026 deployment signals expansion into parking enforcement market segment.
- Philadelphia PPA and SEPTA contract demonstrates transit authority adoption acceleration nationwide.
- $90M Series C from TPG Rise Fund funds R&D for edge AI and smart city solutions.
What critics are saying
- EchoTwin AI competitor launched by ex-CEO using 41GB stolen proprietary data and algorithms.
- Fabricated credentials and fraud allegations against founder erode investor confidence and governance trust.
- Privacy lawsuits from bike lane camera deployments in NYC and DC threaten Santa Monica expansion.
What makes Hayden AI unique
- 2,000+ vision AI systems deployed on buses globally with proven 5-36% speed increases.
- Blockchain-based data management ensures verifiable chain of custody for enforcement evidence.
- Expanded beyond buses to parking enforcement vehicles and bike lane violation detection.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 1%1 year growth
↑ 3%2 year growth
↑ 1%Hayden AI wins 2026 AI Excellence award. Business Wire Company recognized for its mobile vision AI platform that improves public transit reliability and safety worldwide SAN FRANCISCO, March 24, 2026-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Hayden AI, the leading provider of vision AI solutions powering safer, smarter, and more efficient cities, has been named a winner of the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards in the category of Computer Vision by the Business Intelligence Group. Hayden AI's mobile vision AI platform is installed on over 2,300 transit buses across the globe to help cities improve public transit reliability and road safety. Most recently, the company has pioneered the first automated bike lane enforcement and first automated streetcar track zone enforcement programs in the United States. The 2026 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards honor achievement across a broad range of industries and use cases, spotlighting the companies and leaders moving AI beyond experimentation and into practical, accountable deployment. This year's program recognized winners across 36 industries and more than 15 countries. "Hayden AI is honored to be recognized as a leader in Computer Vision by the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards," Hayden AI CEO Marty Beard said. "Our mobile vision AI platform is delivering transformative results for cities across the globe, improving people's access to jobs and services by making transportation safer and more reliable." Hayden AI's automated transit zone and bike lane enforcement platform is used by cities across the globe to keep bus lanes, bike lanes, bus stops and other dedicated transit zones safe and clear of illegally parked vehicles. In New York, bus speeds have increased by 5% on average along routes utilizing this technology. Automated enforcement also helps increase accessibility of public transit, reducing parking violations obstructing bus stops by as much as 40%, allowing bus operators to safely deploy wheelchair access ramps for passengers with disabilities. About Hayden AI: Hayden AI powers safer, smarter, and more efficient cities. We combine advanced vision AI with purpose-built, vehicle-mounted hardware to analyze urban environments in real time. Cities use our technology to make streets safer and improve transit performance for everyone. Learn more at www.hayden.ai
Hayden AI, a traffic management platform that recently raised $180 million, has sued former chief executive Chris Carson Jr. for allegedly using the company's confidential data to launch a competing venture. The lawsuit claims Carson extracted proprietary algorithms and customer information, potentially undermining Hayden's competitive advantage. The case highlights intellectual property vulnerabilities in high-growth AI startups, where founders possess deep technical knowledge that could be exploited by competitors. If successful, the lawsuit could establish stricter contractual safeguards for data ownership and set precedent for protecting proprietary insights in the smart mobility sector. The dispute may prompt investors to conduct more rigorous due diligence on founder exit clauses and data governance before future funding rounds.
Hayden AI, a San Francisco startup valued at $464 million, has sued co-founder and former CEO Chris Carson, alleging he stole 41GB of proprietary data before his September 2024 termination. The company claims Carson engaged in fraud including forged board signatures and unauthorised stock sales. According to the lawsuit, Carson secretly sold over $1.2 million in company stock without board approval to fund a multimillion-dollar Florida home and luxury purchases including a gold Bentley Continental. He allegedly downloaded his entire email file, containing proprietary information, days before launching rival firm EchoTwin AI. Hayden AI further alleges Carson fabricated his professional credentials, including a PhD from Waseda University. The complaint states that in 2007, Carson was actually operating a paintball equipment business in a Florida strip mall, not completing doctoral studies.
Santa Monica will become the first US city to deploy AI-powered cameras on parking enforcement vehicles to detect bike lane violations. Beginning in April, Hayden AI's scanning technology will be installed on seven municipal cars, expanding beyond existing installations on city buses. The San Francisco-based startup's cameras capture 10-second videos and licence plates of vehicles blocking bike lanes, sending evidence packages to police for review. Hayden AI already operates similar systems in Oakland, Sacramento, New York City, Washington DC and Philadelphia, with 2,000 installations on buses worldwide. At UC San Diego, the technology detected over 1,100 parking violations in 59 days, with 88 per cent involving blocked bike lanes. Local cycling advocates have welcomed the expansion as a safety measure.
Hayden AI wins the Auto Sensor Innovation of the Year award from the 2025 Merit Automotive Awards! December 23, 2025 Hayden AI Christmas came early this year! Hayden AI Technologies, Inc. is proud to share that Hayden AI Technologies, Inc. won the Auto Sensor Innovation of the Year award from the 2025 Merit Automotive Awards. You might be surprised that a transit tech company won an automotive industry award. Hayden AI Technologies, Inc. is not. Its vision AI platform is changing how people move around cities: making buses more reliable and easier to ride, bike lanes safer for cycling, bus stops safer and more accessible for people with disabilities, and streets less congested for everyone. Hayden AI's technology is equally effective when installed on different vehicle types, from its bread and butter of public transit buses to - coming in 2026! - streetcars and municipal parking vehicles. These additional vehicle deployments will increase its ability to solve cities' complex mobility and infrastructure challenges. "Winning an automotive industry award is a testament to the impact Hayden AI is having on transportation in cities across the country," said Marty Beard, CEO of Hayden AI. "In 2025, we helped cities across the country reduce collisions, improve transit reliability, and make bus stops more accessible. In 2026 we will make an even bigger impact as we adapt our technology to help cities solve a host of challenges, from spotting and mapping potholes to anticipating upcoming maintenance needs. This award is a significant recognition from the auto industry that our solutions are needed and effective." Thank you to the Merit Awards for selecting Hayden AI Technologies, Inc. for the Auto Sensor Innovation of the Year award. Hayden AI Technologies, Inc. is gearing up for an impactful 2026! About Hayden AI. Hayden AI is a global leader in artificial intelligence and geospatial analytics. Led by a team of experts in AI, computer vision, data science, transportation, and government technology, Hayden is building the future of real world problem solving for governments and businesses.