Director of Research

About Us: Mapsted ) is a global leader in innovative location-based technology, distinguished by its proprietary hardware-free solutions. Founded in 2014, the company has pioneered the transformation of data chaos into actionable intelligence through advanced AI and machine learning. Mapsted has meticulously mapped over one billion square feet of indoor space and holds more than 100 patents, showcasing its commitment to trailblazing innovation. Its unique ability to deliver scalable, beacon-free indoor positioning with an accuracy of 1–5 meters places it at the forefront of the industry.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Director of R&D to lead research-driven innovation with a strong focus on client deployments, real-world problem solving, and proactive issue prevention. This role is not about R&D for R&D's sake — it is about ensuring our optimization and navigation technologies are reliable, scalable, and seamlessly deployed in customer environments.

The Director will guide the full lifecycle of applied research: from algorithm design, through rigorous validation, to real-world implementation and ongoing support. This leader must combine deep technical expertise with delivery discipline and customer-centric problem solving.

Key Responsibilities

Applied Research & Problem Solving

• Anticipate and address real-world deployment challenges (e.g., accessibility issues, dynamic blockages, multi-floor routing).
• Translate cutting-edge research into practical, production-ready solutions that work reliably in diverse customer environments.
• Build frameworks for stress testing and benchmarking to ensure robustness before deployments.
• Proactively identify risks and design solutions that minimize future issues.

Algorithm Development & Technical Leadership

• Guide the design and implementation of advanced pathfinding, routing, and optimization algorithms for indoor navigation and asset tracking.
• Apply deep expertise in graph theory, optimization methods, heuristics/metaheuristics, and real-time systems.
• Oversee benchmarking frameworks to evaluate algorithm performance (speed, accuracy, robustness).
• Ensure research outcomes are integrated seamlessly into production-grade systems.

Collaboration & Delivery Management

• Partner with product managers, researchers, and engineers to translate research concepts into deployable solutions.
• Lead delivery of R&D initiatives from prototype through production, troubleshooting and supporting deployment.
• Ensure effective cross-functional coordination to meet customer needs and technical requirements.
• Provide clear, structured communication of technical findings, risks, and progress to executive and customer stakeholders.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Build, mentor, and scale high-performing R&D teams with a focus on innovation and delivery discipline.
• Promote a culture of planning, accountability, and knowledge sharing.
• Develop team leads and managers to ensure sustainable growth and execution capacity.
• Provide technical and strategic guidance while empowering teams to take ownership.

Requirements

• MSc or PhD in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, or related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in algorithm development, optimization, or applied research, with a proven track record of leading R&D initiatives through to delivery.
• Strong leadership experience managing multi-disciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to create structured R&D plans, set clear milestones, and ensure timely delivery.
• Hands-on expertise with C# and Python, focused on performance and scalability.
• Strong grounding in optimization techniques: linear/integer programming, constraint programming, heuristics/metaheuristics, or ML-based optimization.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and debugging skills.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management abilities.

Job Type: Full-time