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Autonomous Driving Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Waymo

Software Engineer, Multiverse

Manhattan, NY

$170K - $216K/yr

Software Engineer, Multiverse Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009 ...

Waymo

Software Engineer, Multiverse

San Francisco, CA

$170K - $216K/yr

Software Engineer, Multiverse Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009 ...

Waymo

Software Engineer, Multiverse

Mountain View, CA

$170K - $216K/yr

Software Engineer, Multiverse Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009 ...

Waymo

Software Engineer, Multiverse

San Francisco, CA

The Multiverse team at Waymo is responsible for the end-to-end evaluation of our autonomous driving ... Apply software engineering best practices in order to improve code health and developer experience ...

Waymo

Software Engineer, Multiverse

Mountain View, CA

$170K - $216K/yr

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted ... Apply software engineering best practices in order to improve code health and developer experience ...

Waymo

Software Engineer, Multiverse

San Francisco, CA

$170K - $216K/yr

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted ... Apply software engineering best practices in order to improve code health and developer experience ...

Waymo

Software Engineer, Multiverse

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$170K - $216K/yr

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted ... Apply software engineering best practices in order to improve code health and developer experience ...

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Autonomous Driving Software Engineer information

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$63.5K

$147.5K

$205.5K

How much do autonomous driving software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for autonomous driving software engineer in the United States is $147,524.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $120,000.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an Autonomous Driving Software Engineer do?

An Autonomous Driving Software Engineer designs, develops, and tests software systems that enable vehicles to drive themselves safely and efficiently. They work on algorithms for perception, sensor fusion, planning, control, and decision-making, ensuring vehicles can interpret their environment and make real-time driving decisions. These engineers collaborate with hardware teams, use machine learning techniques, and rigorously test their code in simulations and real-world scenarios to meet safety standards.

How does an Autonomous Driving Software Engineer typically collaborate with hardware and testing teams during a project?

As an Autonomous Driving Software Engineer, you will work closely with hardware engineers and testing teams to ensure seamless integration between software algorithms and physical vehicle components. Regular joint meetings and iterative testing sessions are common, where you’ll align on sensor requirements, data collection, and address real-world performance issues. Effective communication and a collaborative mindset are key, as you’ll often troubleshoot issues that cross the boundaries between software logic and hardware behavior. This multidisciplinary interaction not only enhances your technical skills but also provides valuable exposure to the broader autonomous vehicle development process.

What is the difference between Autonomous Driving Software Engineer vs Vehicle Software Engineer?

AspectAutonomous Driving Software EngineerVehicle Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Computer Science, Robotics, or Electrical Engineering; experience with AI, perception, and sensor integrationBachelor's/Master's in Software Engineering or related; focus on embedded systems and vehicle control software
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, automotive companies, tech firms developing autonomous systemsAutomotive manufacturing plants, OEMs, suppliers working on vehicle control systems
Industry UsagePrimarily in autonomous vehicle development and testingIn traditional vehicle control, infotainment, and embedded systems

Autonomous Driving Software Engineers focus on developing software for self-driving systems, including perception, decision-making, and sensor integration. Vehicle Software Engineers work on broader vehicle control systems, including embedded software for engine management, infotainment, and safety features. While both roles require strong software skills, Autonomous Driving Software Engineers specialize in AI and sensor data processing, whereas Vehicle Software Engineers focus on embedded systems within vehicles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Autonomous Driving Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Autonomous Driving Software Engineer, you need strong proficiency in C++ and Python, a solid understanding of robotics, computer vision, and machine learning, and typically a degree in computer science, robotics, or a related field. Experience with ROS (Robot Operating System), simulation tools like CARLA, and familiarity with automotive safety standards such as ISO 26262 are highly valued. Problem-solving ability, teamwork, and effective communication are crucial soft skills in this position. These competencies ensure the development of safe, reliable, and innovative autonomous driving systems in a collaborative and high-stakes environment.
What cities are hiring for Autonomous Driving Software Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Autonomous Driving Software Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Autonomous Driving Software Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Autonomous Driving Software Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Autonomous Driving Software Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% As Needed, 49% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 4% Temporary, 33% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,524 per year, or $70.9 per hour.
Software Engineer, Multiverse

Software Engineer, Multiverse

Waymo

Manhattan, NY

$170K - $216K/yr

Other

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

Software Engineer, Multiverse

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has focused on building the Waymo Driver—The World's Most Experienced Driver™—to improve access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo's fully autonomous ride-hail service and can also be applied to a range of vehicle platforms and product use cases. The Waymo Driver has provided over ten million rider-only trips, enabled by its experience autonomously driving over 100 million miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 15+ U.S. states.

The Multiverse team at Waymo is responsible for the end-to-end evaluation of our autonomous driving software. We don't just look at what happened; we look at what could have happened. Using a mix of real-world testing and counterfactual simulation, we stress-test the Waymo Driver's safety and reliability before it ever hits the road. Join us in the Driver Understanding and Evaluation (DUE) group to develop the rich metrics that define the future of autonomous mobility.

You will:

  • Build the infrastructure to administer a "virtual driver's test" for the Waymo Driver. Design, implement, and operate scalable simulation data pipelines and/or real world monitoring in order to evaluate the driving capability of the Waymo Driver, and at low latency in the real world.
  • Improve the signal quality provided by the "virtual driver's test" and measured in the real world. Measure and improve the quality of individual simulations as well as that of the overarching simulation workflows. Seek to answer whether the results of the "virtual driver's test" are predictive of the Waymo Driver's real-world driving behavior.
  • Apply ML models from partner teams, and optionally contribute to them yourself, to improve the efficiency of our "virtual driver's test": simulate the most interesting situations and report the most interesting simulation results.
  • Apply software engineering best practices in order to improve code health and developer experience in the "virtual driver's test" and the real world monitoring development ecosystems.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams including Data Science and Systems Engineering who will help with number crunching and expert understanding of the Waymo Driver internals.

You have:

  • 3+ years of full-time software engineering experience, or a quantitative PhD with software engineering experience
  • C++ proficiency
  • Python familiarity
  • SQL familiarity
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Excited about autonomous driving, Sim+Eval, eager to learn

We prefer:

  • Industry or doctoral experience in a quantitative- or quality- focused engineering role in which you were performing tasks like developing hypotheses, designing and running experiments, processing data from experiments, synthesizing conclusions, and ensuring the long term stability and health of the production system.
  • B.Sc. in Computer Science
  • Experience working with large FAANG scale distributed systems.

The expected base salary range for this full-time position across US locations is listed below. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location or, if the role can be performed remote, the specific salary range for your preferred location, during the hiring process.

Waymo employees are also eligible to participate in Waymo's discretionary annual bonus program, equity incentive plan, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.

Salary Range $170,000—$216,000 USD

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