Software Engineer, Sensors and System Software (C++, Linux)

Avride•Austin, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sensors and System Software team develops core software that enables autonomous vehicles to perceive and understand the world. The Software Engineer integrates sensors and embedded hardware into software pipelines, designs and maintains the core software stack, and builds deep expertise in sensor technologies to guide the team toward effective solutions. This role works on site in Austin five days a week because the work involves hardware. The engineer develops low-latency device drivers and software pipelines, processes and synchronizes sensor data, and builds data analysis tools to monitor sensor health and identify performance issues. The role uses C++ and Python on embedded Linux systems and involves bringing new sensors and computers onto the bench and vehicle, debugging issues across software, networks, and hardware, and collaborating with perception, localization, firmware, and hardware teams. The position also participates in the team's support rotation. Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. The employer does not offer relocation, sponsorship, or remote work options. Avride is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Math, Physics, or a related STEM field, or equivalent years of experience.
At least 2 years of experience in production software development.
At least 1 year of professional software development in C++, including modern C++ concepts such as RAII, smart pointers, STL containers, and threads.
Proficiency in modern C++ and Python; working knowledge of Python for scripts and data checks.
Everyday use of Linux, including command-line use, building and debugging code, and basic networking such as IP addresses, TCP/UDP, and sockets.
Experience with software that runs on real hardware, such as a robot, vehicle, drone, embedded board, or other device, whether at work, in a research lab, or in a substantial project or competition.
Strong problem-solving and debugging skills.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Ability to work on site in Austin five days a week.
Authorization to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Experience debugging network-related issues using tools such as Wireshark, tcpdump, or ethtool.
Understanding of automotive cameras (GMSL/FPD-Link), LiDAR, radar, IMU, GNSS, and other sensor technologies, including their operating principles, advantages, limitations, and calibration techniques.
Familiarity with ROS or similar frameworks and communication protocols; ROS 2 or other robotics middleware experience is also relevant.
Experience developing drivers or processing software for radar or camera data, or expertise in sensor development.
Experience with real-time embedded systems, asynchronous environments, and multiple real-time, low-latency, safety-critical processes, threads, timers, and interrupts.
Experience with custom Linux-based embedded systems and understanding of kernel-space components of sensor data pipelines.
Understanding of electronics engineering fundamentals sufficient to review embedded-device schematics and designs and support hardware bring-up and debugging.
Experience with automotive hardware interfaces such as CAN, SPI, I2C, PCIe, and Ethernet.
Experience with cameras, LiDAR, radar, IMU, or GNSS.
Experience with embedded Linux, drivers, or NVIDIA Jetson.
Experience with networking tools such as Wireshark, tcpdump, ip, or ethtool.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, optimize, and maintain low-latency, robust device drivers and software pipelines for cameras, LiDAR, radar, IMU, GNSS, microphones, and other autonomous vehicle sensors and actuators.
Develop and optimize algorithms for timestamping, filtering, and preprocessing sensor data to remove noise, false detections, and artifacts before delivering synchronized data to perception and localization subsystems.
Develop and maintain data analysis pipelines to monitor sensor health, detect out-of-spec behavior early, and identify performance bottlenecks.
Write userspace C++ and Python software for embedded Linux computers in vehicles.
Collaborate with embedded, perception, and localization teams to integrate sensors into the autonomous vehicle platform, optimize sensor performance, and debug hardware- and software-related issues.
Develop expertise in sensor technical characteristics, features, parameters, operating principles, and application nuances, and guide team members toward effective solutions.
Write and maintain C++ software that reads, timestamps, and checks data from cameras, LiDARs, radars, IMUs, and GNSS receivers.
Bring new sensors and computers into the software, both on the bench and on vehicles.
Diagnose and fix issues spanning software, networks, and hardware, including dropped packets, incorrect timestamps, and devices that stop sending data.
Write Python tools and tests to check sensor data and help other teams debug.
Work with perception, localization, firmware, and hardware teams, and participate in the team's support rotation.