Senior/Staff System Safety Engineer, Autonomy
$148,594–$247,038 year
On-siteSan Jose, California, United States
Job Summary
Own the safety evaluation and release strategy for unmanned autonomous driving operations, defining clear criteria for system release, degradation, and fallback under varying operating conditions. Design, implement, and champion the safety-related systems engineering framework, including safety requirements, system architecture, and Verification & Validation (V&V) plans. Conduct systematic assessments of unmanned operational workflows, emergency protocols, and supporting tools/platforms to ensure safety and operational completeness. Develop and institutionalize safety evaluation methodologies and metrics frameworks, translating safety goals into quantifiable, verifiable, and continuously tracked indicators. Serve as the technical lead for safety-related incident review and analysis during unmanned operations, driving continuous improvements in system design, test coverage, and operational procedures. Collaborate cross-functionally with Software, Product, Operations, and Safety teams to support leadership decisions regarding unmanned deployment, city expansion, and operational scaling.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's or higher degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related technical field
- 3-5 years of industry experience in systems engineering, safety engineering, autonomous systems, or a directly related field
- Strong systems thinking with the ability to decompose complex safety challenges and drive practical, scalable solutions
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate across teams, influence stakeholders, and take ownership of safety outcomes
- Experience working in a fast-paced environment with multiple parallel projects and ambiguous requirements
Desired Qualifications
- Professional experience in safety-critical autonomous vehicle deployment or large-scale robotic systems operations
- Background in functional safety (ISO 26262, SOTIF) or safety assurance of unmanned systems
- Hands-on experience with safety validation tools, simulation-based V&V, or operational safety monitoring platforms
- Proven track record of defining release policies or safety readiness criteria for real-world autonomous systems
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