We Love AI JobsSenior Staff / Principal Software Engineer - Freeway Autonomy
ZooxZoox is developing freeway-driving capabilities for its autonomous robotaxis, with the goal of operating without a human driver. You’ll guide cross-functional engineering work toward driver-out readiness, develop autonomy algorithms, and advise leaders on technical risks and readiness.
Skills & Expertise
Key Responsibilities
Set technical vision, strategy, and a roadmap for driverless freeway operation.
Identify high-risk gaps in freeway capabilities and lead engineering work to close them.
Develop and validate autonomy algorithms, and communicate readiness recommendations to stakeholders.
Full Description
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:
• Guide autonomy-wide initiatives toward driverless freeway operation, including setting the technical vision and strategy, building the roadmap, and driving cross-functional execution
• Identify the highest-risk gaps between our current freeway capabilities and driver-out readiness, and lead the engineering work to close them
• Develop algorithms that enable freeway driving capabilities, spanning architecture, design, implementation, integration, testing, and verification and validation
• Communicate technical trade-offs, risk assessments, and readiness recommendations to diverse stakeholders, including senior and executive leadership
• Mentor engineers across the freeway program and raise the bar for how we design, test, and validate high-speed autonomous driving
Qualifications:
• 10+ years of industry software experience
• Demonstrated technical leadership of removing the human driver from an autonomous vehicle operating on freeways or highways
• Deep technical expertise in at least one autonomy domain, such as behavior/motion planning, perception, prediction, simulation, or systems engineering
• Proven ability to lead large, cross-functional engineering efforts from ambiguity to shipped results
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical trade-offs for varied audiences including executives
Bonus Qualifications:
• Experience scaling and operating a driverless service after driver removal
• Experience constructing safety cases or defining driver-out readiness criteria for high-speed autonomous driving
• Proficiency in C++