Software Architect - Fallback Stack

Applied Intuition•Sunnyvale, CA

126d•$145,000 - $245,000•Onsite

About The Position

Applied Intuition is seeking a Software Architect to lead the fallback stack development for their L4 trucking program. This role involves defining how vehicles detect uncertainty, execute minimal risk maneuvers, and establishing a scalable architecture for current and future autonomy programs. The company is a leader in physical AI, providing digital infrastructure for intelligent moving machines across various industries like automotive, defense, and trucking. They are an in-office company with a strong emphasis on in-person collaboration, though they offer some flexibility for work-life balance.

Requirements

Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
6+ years of experience building autonomy software for L4 autonomous driving systems.
Strong programming skills in C++.
Experience designing or implementing fallback or degraded driving behaviors in an autonomous driving stack.
Hands-on experience integrating multiple autonomy subsystems into a cohesive system architecture.

Nice To Haves

Experience on L4 trucking or robotaxi programs, especially around degraded driving, fallback behavior, or safety-critical autonomy.
Experience with remote operations, tele-guidance, or remote assistance systems for autonomous vehicles or robots.
Depth in perception, behavior/decision-making, or motion planning for edge cases, fallback scenarios, or human-intervention handoffs.
Familiarity with automotive safety and autonomy standards (for example, ISO 26262, ISO 21448, UL 4600) or similar frameworks.
Experience defining and validating metrics and scenarios for autonomy performance and safety near operational limits.
Prior experience helping to build a new autonomy capability or team from scratch.

Responsibilities

Define the architecture for the L4 trucking fallback stack, including interfaces to perception, behavior, planning, control, and the primary autonomy stack.
Design strategies for degraded driving, minimal risk maneuvers, and transitions to remote assistance.
Specify and review algorithms that detect autonomy degradation and trigger appropriate fallback behaviors or remote intervention.
Work closely with behavior, planning, and perception engineers to align safety logic and trajectories with fallback requirements and ODD constraints.
Architect and refine interfaces between the vehicle stack and the remote assistance platform for tele-guidance and safe maneuver completion.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship as we build the fallback stack team, influencing decisions across trucking and future SDS programs.