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Autonomous System Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Be Seen First

Role Overview The Autonomous Systems Validation Operator plays a critical role in the development ... Work directly with hardware and software engineering teams to communicate system behavior ...

Be Seen First

Role Overview The Autonomous Systems Validation Operator plays a critical role in the development ... Work directly with hardware and software engineering teams to communicate system behavior ...

Flight Research Systems Engineer

Concord, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This role will own the architecture, integration, and life-cycle success of the autonomy system ... The Systems Engineer will work very closely with Software, Hardware and GNC teams to ensure the ...

Flight Research Systems Engineer

Concord, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This role will own the architecture, integration, and life-cycle success of the autonomy system ... The Systems Engineer will work very closely with Software, Hardware and GNC teams to ensure the ...

Flight Research Systems Engineer

Concord, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Systems Engineers will own the architecture, integration, and life-cycle success of a single or ... This role will own the architecture, integration, and life-cycle success of the autonomy system ...

Flight Research Senior Systems Engineer

Concord, CA · On-site

$114K - $156K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This role will own the architecture, integration, and life-cycle success of the autonomy system ... The Senior Systems Engineer will work very closely with Software, Hardware and GNC teams to ensure ...

Staff System Engineer - ADAS/AD Safety

Newark, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Bachelors in System Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science 8+ years of related experience in system safety, functional safety, or safety assurance for autonomous systems, ADAS ...

Flight Research Senior Systems Engineer

Concord, CA · On-site

$114K - $156K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This role will own the architecture, integration, and life-cycle success of the autonomy system ... The Senior Systems Engineer will work very closely with Software, Hardware and GNC teams to ensure ...

Flight Research Senior Systems Engineer

Concord, CA · On-site

$114K - $156K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Systems Engineers will own the architecture, integration, and life-cycle success of a single or ... This role will own the architecture, integration, and life-cycle success of the autonomy system ...

Showing results 21-40

Autonomous System Engineer information

See California salary details

$52.8K

$125.5K

$164.8K

How much do autonomous system engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for autonomous system engineer in California is $125,549.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,700.00 and $154,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an autonomous system engineer do?

An Autonomous System Engineer designs, develops, and maintains systems that can operate independently with minimal human intervention. This typically involves integrating hardware and software components, developing algorithms for perception, planning, and control, and ensuring the safety and reliability of autonomous systems like self-driving cars, drones, or robotics. They also work on testing, simulation, and troubleshooting to improve system performance and adapt to new scenarios.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an autonomous system engineer?

To thrive as an Autonomous System Engineer, you need a strong background in robotics, computer science, and control systems, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with programming languages like Python or C++, simulation tools such as ROS or Gazebo, and experience with embedded systems are crucial, alongside certifications in AI or machine learning being advantageous. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication skills set outstanding candidates apart. These competencies are essential to design, implement, and maintain reliable autonomous systems capable of operating safely and efficiently in complex environments.

What are some common challenges autonomous system engineers face when integrating new technologies into existing systems?

Autonomous System Engineers often encounter challenges such as ensuring compatibility between legacy infrastructure and cutting-edge autonomous technologies. Balancing system safety, reliability, and real-time performance while integrating new hardware or software can be complex. Additionally, it requires close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams—including software developers, data scientists, and hardware engineers—to address interoperability and compliance with industry standards. Successfully overcoming these hurdles is key to deploying robust, scalable autonomous solutions.

What is the difference between Autonomous System Engineer vs Network Engineer?

AspectAutonomous System EngineerNetwork Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires Cisco, Juniper, or similar certifications, along with networking degreesOften holds Cisco CCNA, CCNP, or equivalent certifications and networking degrees
Work EnvironmentFocuses on large-scale internet infrastructure, ISPs, and data centersWorks on enterprise, corporate, or service provider networks
Industry UsagePrimarily in internet service providers, large data centers, and telecom companiesUsed across various industries including corporate, healthcare, and education
Job FocusDesigning, managing, and optimizing autonomous systems and routing protocolsConfiguring and maintaining network hardware and connectivity

While both roles involve networking expertise, Autonomous System Engineers specialize in large-scale internet routing and autonomous systems, whereas Network Engineers focus on broader network infrastructure management across different environments.

What job categories do people searching Autonomous System Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Autonomous System Engineer jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Autonomous System Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $125,549 per year, or $60.4 per hour.

Senior/Staff Systems Engineer, Autonomy Verification

Nuro

Mountain View, CA

$176K - $319K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago


Job description

Who We Are

Nuro believes self-driving vehicles are the most immediate and profound opportunity for AI to drive positive change in the physical world. Safer streets, more time for what matters, and easier access to the world around us, that's why we're building a universal autonomy platform: self-driving for all roads and all rides.
Founded in 2016, Nuro is a physical AI company developing Level 4 autonomous driving technology for a wide range of vehicles, use cases, and markets. Powered by the Nuro Driver™, our universal autonomy platform enables the global mobility ecosystem to deploy autonomy at scale, from robotaxis and logistics fleets to personal vehicles.
With years of real-world deployment experience and a flexible, partner-led business model, Nuro is working toward a future where millions of autonomous vehicles powered by our technology help make everyday life safer, easier, and more connected.
Nuro has raised over $2B in capital from Uber, NVIDIA, Google, Softbank, Fidelity, T. Rowe Price, and other leading investors.

About the Role

As a Senior/Staff Systems Engineer working on Autonomy Verification, you are responsible for verifying that the Nuro Driver is safe to deploy in our target ODD and complies with the rules of the road. This requires prior experience with the development or validation of autonomous systems, and a collaborative nature to work closely with a variety of teams across Nuro: Autonomy Software, Simulation, Product, and Operations. You will have end-to-end ownership from requirements definition, metrics design, and test strategy development.

About the Work

  • Create requirements for an autonomous system, ensuring safe operation within its ODD and compliance with the rules of the road.
  • Design generalizable metrics and acceptance criteria to verify that the autonomous system satisfies these requirements, leveraging safety standards and methodologies.
  • Propose and leverage diverse test strategies - synthetic and log simulation, on-road logs, closed-course testing, third-party accident reconstructions - to verify requirements.
  • Collaborate closely with Behavior, Perception, Data Science, Product, Legal, and Public Trust teams to develop acceptance criteria for metrics and tests.
  • Partner with simulation infrastructure and test integration teams to set up automated verification workflows.
  • Quantify coverage of the tests for our ODD, ensuring simulation realism and relevance for deployment. Link the results from the tests as evidence to support the Autonomy Safety Case.

About You

  • 5+ years of technical work experience in a relevant area with 3+ years of experience with development or validation of autonomous vehicles/robotic systems.
  • Experience creating behavior requirements for SAE L2, L3, or L4 autonomous systems or other robotic systems to operate safely within its ODD.
  • Experience with simulation and real-world testing of autonomous systems.
  • Strong understanding of the autonomy architecture - how sensing, localization, perception, prediction, behavior, and control modules interact.
  • Hands-on software experience, with the ability to code in Python or C++.
  • Highly collaborative in nature, with strong abilities to think and communicate analytically and effectively.

Bonus Points

  • Background in autonomous vehicles ideally with L4 AV deployment.
  • Prior experience building computational models for driving behavior or ML based metrics for behavior evaluation.
  • Familiarity with safety standards and methodologies like STPA, ISO-21448, ISO 8800.
  • Experience developing a safety case or compiling evidence supporting a safety case in a structured manner.

At Nuro, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. For this position, the reasonably expected base pay range is between $176,400 and $319,720 for the level at which this job has been scoped. Your base pay will depend on several factors, including your experience, qualifications, education, location, and skills. In the event that you are considered for a different level, a higher or lower pay range would apply. This position is also eligible for an annual performance bonus, equity, and a competitive benefits package.

At Nuro, we celebrate differences and are committed to a diverse workplace that fosters inclusion and psychological safety for all employees. Nuro is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and expressly prohibits any form of workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics. #LI-DNP