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Autopilot Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Autopilot Engineer information

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$38K

$90.5K

$150.5K

How much do autopilot engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for autopilot engineer in the United States is $90,538.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $71,500.00 and $100,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as an Autopilot Engineer, you need a solid background in computer science, robotics, or electrical engineering, often with experience in autonomous systems and a relevant degree. Proficiency in programming languages like C++ and Python, familiarity with machine learning frameworks, and experience using simulation tools such as ROS or MATLAB are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork skills help you excel in developing reliable autonomous systems. These skills ensure the design, testing, and deployment of safe and efficient autopilot technologies in real-world environments.

How does an Autopilot Engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during the development of autonomous driving features?

Autopilot Engineers work closely with teams such as software developers, hardware engineers, data scientists, and product managers to design and implement autonomous driving systems. Collaboration often involves daily stand-ups, code reviews, and joint troubleshooting sessions to integrate sensor data, machine learning algorithms, and control systems. Effective communication and teamwork are critical, as the success of autopilot features depends on seamless integration of software and hardware components. This collaborative environment fosters innovation and helps ensure the delivery of safe, reliable autonomous driving solutions.

What are Autopilot Engineers?

Autopilot Engineers are professionals who design, develop, test, and maintain autonomous systems for vehicles, such as cars, drones, or aircraft. They work on the software and hardware that enable a vehicle to navigate, detect obstacles, and make driving decisions without human intervention. Their work often involves programming, sensor integration, machine learning, and safety validation to ensure reliable and safe autonomous operation.

What is the difference between Autopilot Engineer vs Software Engineer?

AspectAutopilot EngineerSoftware Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, specialized in control systems or embedded systemsBachelor's in Computer Science or related field
Work EnvironmentAutomotive, aerospace, or robotics industries focusing on autonomous systemsVarious industries including tech, finance, healthcare, developing software applications
Employer & Industry UsageAutomotive manufacturers, aerospace companies, robotics firmsTech companies, startups, enterprise software firms
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Autopilot Engineers focus on developing and testing autonomous control systems for vehicles or robots, requiring expertise in control theory and embedded systems. Software Engineers develop a broad range of software applications across industries, emphasizing coding and software architecture. While both roles involve programming, Autopilot Engineers specialize in autonomous system integration, whereas Software Engineers work on diverse software solutions.

More about Autopilot Engineer jobs
What job categories do people searching Autopilot Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Autopilot Engineer jobs are:
Software Engineer, Scenario Evaluation, Autopilot Simulation

Software Engineer, Scenario Evaluation, Autopilot Simulation

Tesla

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago


Tesla rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 661 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

1st of 44 rated automakers


Job description

Job Summary:
Tesla is a leading electric vehicle manufacturer, and they are seeking a Software Engineer to join their Autopilot Simulation team. In this role, you will be responsible for building and maintaining validation mechanisms to ensure the safety and reliability of Autopilot AI, collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive comprehensive validation through sophisticated test scenario development.
Responsibilities:
• Design, develop, and maintain software evaluations and tools to engineer, author, and manage high-value simulation scenarios and evaluation metrics at scale
• Architect and implement scenario evaluation pipelines that enable rapid iteration and comprehensive coverage of edge cases
• Evaluate TeslaAI model performance through collaborating with feature owners and driving success through improved metrics and test coverage
• Develop sophisticated tooling and automation to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and coverage of simulator validation
• Build and maintain scenario reporting and analytics tools that provide actionable insights into test results and system performance
Qualifications:
Required:
• Degree in Computer Science, Physics, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or proof of exceptional skills in related fields, with practical software engineering experience, or equivalent experience
• 3+ years of software development experience, preferably in ML-based evaluation systems, robotics simulation, or closed-loop evaluation systems
• 2+ years of HIL, SIL, or closed-loop evaluation experience in a production environment
• Strong proficiency in Python and some C++
• Experience troubleshooting complex issues at both the software and hardware level
• Proven track record solving difficult QA challenges, including sim-to-real gap, statistical analysis & numerical methods, reporting, and parallelization
• Experience designing automation frameworks and developing test automation software from the ground up
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and version control systems (e.g., Git)
Company:
Tesla is an electric vehicle and clean energy company that provides electric cars, solar, and renewable energy solutions. Founded in 2003, the company is headquartered in Austin, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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