Head Of Sensors Engineering

Nuro•Mountain View, CA

65d•$213,480 - $352,290

About The Position

We are looking for an experienced Head of Sensors Engineering to lead the strategic development and integration of our entire perception hardware suite. This role requires deep, hands-on domain expertise across camera, lidar, and radar technologies and a strong understanding of their implementation within autonomous vehicle systems. The leader will hold full responsibility for the sensor system architecture, performance specification, and ensuring adherence to rigorous functional safety standards. Success hinges on the ability to manage the full product lifecycle, from supplier negotiations and high-volume manufacturing readiness to tight integration with mechanical and software engineering partners. A core partnership function involves working closely with the Perception team to translate their algorithmic needs into concrete, high-performance sensor requirements and selections. This leadership position also requires strong organizational and communication skills. You will be responsible for scaling and managing a large, multidisciplinary engineering team, driving a culture of accountability and technical rigor. Furthermore, you will act as a key external representative for our sensor strategy in engagements with suppliers and industry bodies. A critical expectation is the ability to clearly and concisely present technical roadmaps and strategic trade-offs to executive leadership, ensuring alignment on the path toward a production-ready, robust, and safe sensor solution.

Requirements

B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field.
Minimum of 15+ years of professional engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a Director-level or equivalent leadership role managing large, diverse teams.
Deep, hands-on domain expertise and a proven track record of shipping complex products utilizing two or more core AV sensor types (e.g., Lidar, Radar, or Camera).
Demonstrated experience in automotive or consumer electronics product cycles, including qualification, validation, and high-volume manufacturing.
Expertise in defining and implementing solutions for functional safety (e.g., ISO 26262) and reliability in a safety-critical system.
Exceptional executive-level communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical issues and trade-offs clearly.
A history of successfully managing multi-million dollar supplier relationships and driving technical requirements from evaluation phase to production.
Proven ability to recruit, mentor, and scale a world-class, multidisciplinary engineering organization.

Responsibilities

Define and own the end-to-end architecture, roadmap, and performance targets for the entire vehicle sensor suite (camera, lidar, radar, IMU, etc.).
Lead the selection, validation, and integration of all sensor hardware, drivers, and associated compute components.
Ensure the sensor system meets all stringent automotive and functional safety requirements for AV deployment.
Manage key supplier relationships, leading technical discussions, supporting contract negotiations, and joint development programs.
Support the industrialization and manufacturing process for all sensor hardware, ensuring high quality and yield at scale with our supply base.
Drive cross-functional collaboration with Software Infrastructure, Mechanical Engineering, and Perception teams to achieve seamless sensor integration and performance.
Manage a large, multidisciplinary team of hardware, electrical, and software engineers, fostering career development and technical rigor.
Serve as the primary technical voice for the sensor system to executive leadership, investors, and external partners.