Senior Staff / Principal Software Engineer - Freeway Autonomy

Zoox
Foster City, CA
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Geared toward experienced autonomy engineers comfortable with cross-functional leadership and high-speed driving algorithm development, with a focus on full-time, on-site work in Foster City, CA.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 10+ years of industry experience in autonomy domains and a track record of leading driverless freeway projects.
    — “10+ years of industry software experience
  • Individuals who have guided large-scale autonomy initiatives from supervised operation to driverless deployment.
    — “Guide autonomy-wide initiatives toward driverless freeway operation
  • Engineers with deep technical expertise in high-speed autonomous driving and the ability to influence executive decisions.
    — “Communicate technical trade-offs, risk assessments, and readiness recommendations to diverse stakeholders, including senior and executive leadership

Things to consider

  • Candidates must demonstrate leadership in transitioning from supervised to driverless operations.
    — “has played a significant role in removing the driver from an autonomous vehicle operating on freeways

How to stand out

  • Highlight your experience closing high-risk technical gaps in freeway autonomy systems.
    — “Identify the highest-risk gaps between our current freeway capabilities and driver-out readiness
  • Emphasize your ability to lead cross-functional teams from ambiguous goals to shipped results.
    — “Proven ability to lead large, cross-functional engineering efforts from ambiguity to shipped results
  • Showcase your expertise in developing and validating algorithms for high-speed autonomous driving.
    — “Develop algorithms that enable freeway driving capabilities, spanning architecture, design, implementation, integration, testing, and verification and validation
  • Demonstrate your ability to translate complex technical trade-offs for leadership audiences.
    — “Communicate technical trade-offs, risk assessments, and readiness recommendations to diverse stakeholders
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • led significant autonomy domain projects
  • shipped complex technical solutions
  • mentored engineers
Typical background
10+ years software engineeringautonomous vehicle experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Autonomous Vehicle SoftwareFreeway Driving AlgorithmsCross-functional EngineeringTechnical LeadershipCommunication Skills

Preferred

Driverless Service ScalingSafety Case ConstructionHigh-speed Autonomous Driving Readiness

Stack & domain

C++CommunicationAutonomyBehavior/motion PlanningPerceptionPredictionSimulationSystems Engineering

About the role

Original posting from Zoox via Lever

Zoox is on an ambitious journey to develop a full-stack autonomous robotaxi solution, and freeways are the next frontier. We are looking for a Senior Staff or Principal Software Engineer who has played a significant role in removing the driver from an autonomous vehicle operating on freeways, and who can help Zoox navigate that same journey. You will bring deep technical expertise in a relevant autonomy domain — the specific domain is flexible — along with the hard-won judgment that comes from having taken a freeway driving program from supervised operation to driverless. This is a highly visible role with broad influence across the Autonomy organization.

In this role, you will::

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Guide autonomy-wide initiatives toward driverless freeway operation, including setting the technical vision and strategy, building the roadmap, and driving cross-functional execution

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Identify the highest-risk gaps between our current freeway capabilities and driver-out readiness, and lead the engineering work to close them

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Develop algorithms that enable freeway driving capabilities, spanning architecture, design, implementation, integration, testing, and verification and validation

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Communicate technical trade-offs, risk assessments, and readiness recommendations to diverse stakeholders, including senior and executive leadership

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Mentor engineers across the freeway program and raise the bar for how we design, test, and validate high-speed autonomous driving

Qualifications::

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10+ years of industry software experience

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Demonstrated technical leadership of removing the human driver from an autonomous vehicle operating on freeways or highways

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Deep technical expertise in at least one autonomy domain, such as behavior/motion planning, perception, prediction, simulation, or systems engineering

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Proven ability to lead large, cross-functional engineering efforts from ambiguity to shipped results

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Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical trade-offs for varied audiences including executives

Bonus Qualifications::

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Experience scaling and operating a driverless service after driver removal

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Experience constructing safety cases or defining driver-out readiness criteria for high-speed autonomous driving

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Proficiency in C++

Compensation:

Base Salary Range

There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. A sign-on bonus may be offered as part of the compensation package. The listed range applies only to the base salary. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level. Leveling, as well as positioning within a level, is determined by a range of factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's relevant years of experience, domain knowledge, and interview performance. The salary range listed in this posting is representative of the range of levels Zoox is considering for this position.

Zoox also offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including paid time off (e.g. sick leave, vacation, bereavement), unpaid time off, Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights, Amazon RSUs, health insurance, long-term care insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, and life insurance.

Source: Zoox careers (Lever)

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