1

Autonomous System Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description The Cloud OS System Software Team is looking for an exceptional software engineer to build and integrate software to orchestrate workloads across highly performant and energy efficient ...

Systems Software Engineer (Generalist)

San Diego, CA · On-site

$183K - $217K/yr

Design, develop, and maintain software for autonomous vehicle systems and supporting infrastructure * Build reliable, scalable, and maintainable software solutions across embedded, systems, and ...

Systems Software Engineer (Generalist)

Austin, TX · On-site

$171K - $203K/yr

Design, develop, and maintain software for autonomous vehicle systems and supporting infrastructure * Build reliable, scalable, and maintainable software solutions across embedded, systems, and ...

System Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$175K - $263K/yr

Description The Cloud OS System Software Team is looking for an exceptional software engineer to build and integrate software to orchestrate workloads across highly performant and energy efficient ...

$90K - $119K/yr

Knowledge of automotive systems, including ADAS, autonomous driving, vehicle electrical ... AI systems to software engineering, system debugging, testing, or developer productivity

System Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$142K - $263K/yr

Description The Cloud OS System Software Team is looking for an exceptional software engineer to build and integrate software to orchestrate workloads across highly performant and energy efficient ...

Showing results 21-40

Autonomous System Software Engineer information

See salary details

$83K

$177.7K

$206K

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

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for autonomous system software engineer in the United States is $177,719.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $173,000.00 and $205,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an autonomous system software engineer?

An Autonomous System Software Engineer is a professional who designs, develops, and maintains software that enables machines or systems to operate independently with minimal human intervention. These engineers work on technologies such as robotics, self-driving vehicles, drones, and industrial automation. They integrate algorithms for perception, decision-making, and control to ensure reliable and safe autonomous operation. The role often involves programming, testing, and deploying software, as well as collaborating with hardware and systems engineers.

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

To thrive as an Autonomous System Software Engineer, you need a solid background in computer science, robotics, and algorithms, often supported by a relevant degree and experience in developing real-time or embedded systems. Familiarity with programming languages like C++, Python, and ROS (Robot Operating System), as well as tools for simulation and testing such as Gazebo or MATLAB, is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and effective communication skills help engineers navigate complex technical challenges and work with multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are essential for creating reliable, efficient autonomous systems that perform safely and effectively in real-world environments.

How do autonomous system software engineers typically collaborate with hardware teams during development?

Autonomous System Software Engineers often work closely with hardware teams to ensure seamless integration between software algorithms and the physical components of autonomous systems, such as sensors, actuators, and onboard computers. Regular cross-disciplinary meetings, joint testing sessions, and iterative feedback cycles are common practices to address compatibility issues and optimize performance. This collaboration is essential for troubleshooting, refining system requirements, and ensuring that both software and hardware components meet safety and reliability standards.

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

AspectAutonomous System Software EngineerNetwork Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS or EE, knowledge of networking protocols, programming skillsBachelor's in CS, EE, or related field, strong networking and programming skills
Work EnvironmentDeveloping software for autonomous systems, often in research or tech companiesDesigning and maintaining network software, in telecom, IT, or enterprise environments
Employer & Industry UsageAutonomous vehicle companies, robotics firms, tech giantsTelecom providers, network hardware companies, enterprise IT departments

While both roles involve software development and networking knowledge, Autonomous System Software Engineers focus on creating software for autonomous systems like vehicles or robots, whereas Network Software Engineers primarily develop and maintain software for network infrastructure and communication systems.

What are popular job titles related to Autonomous System Software Engineer jobs?

For Autonomous System Software Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Autonomous System Software Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $177,719 per year, or $85.4 per hour.

Senior System Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

Nvidia
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing • 10K+ employees

Full-time

Re-posted 9 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Collaborate with software, hardware, safety, and product management teams to translate product requirements into system requirements, software architectures, and technical designs

  • Design, develop, and optimize software architectures and frameworks for real-world performance to meet product and customer requirements

  • Debug complex system-level issues spanning software, operating systems, networking, middleware, and hardware interfaces


Nvidia rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 18 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 247 rated software companies


Job description

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It's a unique legacy of innovation fueled by great technology and amazing people. Today, we're tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPUs act as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what's never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world's best talent.

The DRIVE OS Team is searching for a hands-on Systems and Software Platform Engineer to develop innovative solutions for the world of transportation and the growing field of self-driving cars. This role works across software, hardware, safety, and product teams to develop, integrate, and improve capabilities within NVIDIA's autonomous driving DRIVE OS software platform.

What you'll be doing:

  • Collaborate with software, hardware, safety, and product management teams to translate product requirements into system requirements, software architectures, and technical designs

  • Design and develop solutions for vehicle interface abstraction, vehicle network topology and infrastructure, data flow, time synchronization, and other system-level capabilities

  • Develop, document, implement, and optimize software architectures and frameworks for real-world performance while meeting product and customer requirements

  • Design, develop, deploy, and improve AI agents and AI-assisted workflows that automate engineering tasks such as software development, system analysis, testing, debugging, documentation, data analysis, and developer productivity

  • Identify opportunities to apply generative AI and agentic workflows to improve engineering efficiency, software quality, and development processes

  • Debug complex system-level issues spanning software, operating systems, networking, middleware, and hardware interfaces

  • Collaborate across engineering teams to integrate, test, and deliver robust software capabilities on the DRIVE OS platform

What we need to see:

  • BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering field, or equivalent experience

  • 5+ years of relevant software or systems engineering experience

  • Strong C and C++ programming skills, with experience designing, developing, integrating, and debugging complex software systems

  • Experience with Linux, QNX, Android, or other embedded or real-time operating systems, including software that spans hardware, operating system, middleware, and application layers

  • Experience developing or integrating AI-powered tools, AI agents, or automation into software engineering workflows

  • Familiarity with modern AI development tools, APIs, scripting languages, and frameworks used to build and deploy agent-based automation

  • Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with multi-functional engineering teams in a dynamic development environment

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate technical concepts and engineering decisions

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

  • Knowledge of automotive systems, including ADAS, autonomous driving, vehicle electrical architectures, and automotive communication networks

  • Experience with embedded systems, software/hardware integration, and software development on the QNX operating system

  • Experience applying generative AI, large language models, or agentic AI systems to software engineering, system debugging, testing, or developer productivity

  • Experience building AI agents that interact with engineering tools, source repositories, CI/CD systems, test infrastructure, or technical documentation

  • Experience with Python or other scripting languages for engineering automation and AI development

NVIDIA is a "learning machine" that constantly evolves by adapting to new opportunities that are hard to solve, that only we can pursue, and that matter to the world. This is our life's work: to amplify human creativity and intelligence. NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the technology world's most desirable employers. We have some of the most forward-thinking and dedicated people in the world working for us. If you are creative, autonomous, and love a challenge, we would love to hear from you.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 152,000 USD - 241,500 USD.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until August 30, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

What Nvidia employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Nvidia logo

About Nvidia

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It's a unique legacy of innovation that's fueled by great technology--and amazing people. Today, we're tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what's never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world's best talent.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Clara, CA, US