Senior C++ Software Engineer - Map Navigation
About the position
We are seeking a full-time Senior C++ Software Engineer - Map Navigation at Garmin's U.S. headquarters in the Greater Kansas City area OR in our Cary, NC office to help improve map search performance and capability across millions of embedded devices from wearables to cycling computers. In this role, you will work on core systems that enable map search to be highly efficient and exceptionally responsive at runtime across constrained environments. This is a system and innovation focused role centered on C++, performance engineering, and reliable quality. You will tackle challenges in next-generation search capability, memory optimization, and high-performance systems that directly influence real-world user experience in demanding outdoor conditions. Your work will directly impact the responsiveness and usability of map search experiences across our ecosystem.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a senior individual contributor in the design and development of next-generation search systems and high-performance runtime architectures in C++
- Own and drive solutions that improve map search performance, data efficiency, and accuracy of results across embedded and resource-constrained devices
- Design and review architecturally sound software systems using modular components to enable scalable platform evolution
- Evaluate emerging technologies and methodologies as they apply to future-facing search and embedded system capabilities
- Participate in project leadership and/or program planning including providing technical input to product direction, architecture, and innovation initiatives
- Mentor and provide guidance to less experienced Software Engineers
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate map search capabilities across Garmin products and ensure solutions meet real-world usage scenarios in dynamic environments
- May serve as a Lead Software Engineer for complex or cross-functional software development efforts
- Provide technical direction and contribute to system-level tradeoffs involving performance, memory efficiency, scalability, and user experience
Requirements
- Experience designing or working with search algorithms and large-scale structured datasets
- Proficiency in C++ (C++14 or newer preferred)
- Strong background in systems-level, embedded, or performance-critical software development
- Demonstrated ability to decompose functional requirements into well-defined tasks while balancing quality, quantity and complexity in work output
- Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to research and apply appropriate algorithmic solutions
- Proven experience designing scalable, high-performance software systems that solve complex technical challenges
- Demonstrated ability serving as a lead software engineer for a complex software project
- Demonstrated capability to offer peer technical assessments in areas of expertise, new technologies and software designs
- Strong communication skills and the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Math or Physics or another relevant engineering/technical field AND a minimum of 5 years relevant experience OR an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
- Excellent academics (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 as a general rule)
Nice-to-haves
- Familiarity with data compression, tiling, indexing, or spatial data systems
- Experience optimizing search performance or large-scale data access patterns in constrained or high-performance systems
- Previous experience in embedded, wearable, fitness, automotive, or other resource-constrained environments
- Superior academics (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.5)
- Proficiency writing software in C#, SQL or Python for tooling and automation
Benefits
- Garmin's benefit program
