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Independent Contractor Autonomous Vehicle Testing Jobs in Michigan

AV Safety Operator

Detroit, MI · On-site

$21.50 - $27/hr

The operator ensures the safety of vehicle occupants, surrounding road users, and the testing ... Key Responsibilities Vehicle Operation & Safety Safely operate autonomous vehicles in both manual ...

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Independent Contractor Autonomous Vehicle Testing information

What is an independent contractor autonomous vehicle tester?

Independent Contractor Autonomous Vehicle Testers are professionals hired on a contract basis to evaluate and monitor the performance of self-driving vehicles. They are responsible for operating autonomous vehicles in real-world environments, observing system behavior, and reporting any issues or irregularities. These contractors play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and reliability of autonomous driving technology before it is deployed to the public. Often, they need to have a clean driving record, technical aptitude, and the ability to follow detailed protocols. Their feedback helps manufacturers improve autonomous vehicle systems.

What is the difference between Independent Contractor Autonomous Vehicle Testing vs Autonomous Vehicle Software Engineer?

AspectIndependent Contractor Autonomous Vehicle TestingAutonomous Vehicle Software Engineer
CredentialsRelevant certifications, driving licenses, safety trainingComputer science, software engineering degrees, coding skills
Work EnvironmentOn-road testing, fieldwork, testing sitesOffice, lab, or remote software development
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by testing companies, automakers, startups for real-world testingEmployed by tech firms, automakers for software development

While both roles involve autonomous vehicle technology, Independent Contractor Autonomous Vehicle Testing focuses on real-world testing and data collection, often on a contractual basis. Autonomous Vehicle Software Engineers develop and maintain the software systems that enable autonomous driving. The roles differ in credentials, work environment, and industry application, but both are essential in advancing autonomous vehicle technology.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an independent contractor in autonomous vehicle testing?

To thrive as an Independent Contractor in Autonomous Vehicle Testing, you need a valid driver's license, a clean driving record, strong observational skills, and ideally some technical or engineering background. Familiarity with vehicle diagnostic tools, data logging systems, and proprietary AV testing software is typically required, along with any specific safety certifications mandated by employers. Attention to detail, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for accurately reporting issues and collaborating with engineering teams. These competencies ensure safe, reliable data collection and contribute to the successful development and deployment of autonomous vehicle technologies.

What are some common challenges faced by independent contractors in autonomous vehicle testing, and how can they be managed?

Independent contractors in autonomous vehicle testing often face challenges such as adapting to rapidly changing technology, adhering to strict safety protocols, and managing variable schedules. Staying up-to-date with the latest software updates and testing procedures is essential, as is maintaining clear communication with engineering teams and project managers. Contractors can manage these challenges by participating in ongoing training, familiarizing themselves with company-specific tools, and practicing meticulous documentation to ensure accurate feedback. Building strong professional relationships within the team also helps foster a collaborative environment and smooth workflow.
What are the most commonly searched types of Autonomous Vehicle Testing jobs in Michigan? The most popular types of Autonomous Vehicle Testing jobs in Michigan are:
What job categories do people searching Independent Contractor Autonomous Vehicle Testing jobs in Michigan look for? The top searched job categories for Independent Contractor Autonomous Vehicle Testing jobs in Michigan are:
Infographic showing various Independent Contractor Autonomous Vehicle Testing job openings in Michigan as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 17% Full Time, 50% Part Time, and 33% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Software Engineer, Autonomous Vehicles Software Systems - Early Career

General Motors

Warren, MI • On-site, Remote

$99K - $153K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 15 days ago


General Motors rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

General Motors

Based on 305 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Automakers average

Based on 6,268 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Job Description

Hybrid: This role is categorized as Hybrid/Remote.MI & CA
Role: As a Software Engineer on the Software Validation team within the AV organization, you will play a critical role in the development of methods, tools and processes for the validation of autonomous vehicle behavior. You will leverage your experience in software engineering to convert validation strategies into well-architected and implemented code that analyzes AV behavior. Creating methods an tools to execute comprehensive, repeatable and precise validation for autonomy software and hardware. You will work with a team of engineers to define best practices, raise the bar internally on coding quality, and verify the safety and performance of autonomous systems. You will be responsible for shaping the future of evaluation methodologies for AI systems and other ADAS features, architecting solutions that meet the testing needs of AI developers, systems engineers, and safety stakeholders.

About the Organization: The Autonomous Vehicle (AV) organization is dedicated to advancing the development of autonomous vehicles through cutting-edge simulation technologies and novel iterative development processes. The Behavior Validation team focuses on unlocking software launches and continuous release decisions via simulation verification and validation strategies, prototypes, and protocols. Our collaborative environment fosters innovation and excellence, allowing us to push the boundaries of what is possible in autonomous vehicle testing.

What You'll Do:

  • Develop and prototype strategies to benchmark autonomy systems' performance.

  • Convert validation strategies into production code that executes high quality AV behavior analysis for continuous and scaled software release cycles

  • Utilize performance data gathered from in-simulation, on-bench, on-road testing, to create actionable insights for AI developers to continuously improve the stack performance

  • Use data analytics to facilitate data driven design, validation, risk analysis, and prioritization decisions

  • Build tools that scale systems engineering prototyped testing products to additional users like the software release team and Embodied AI

  • Facilitate cross-team collaboration to establish coding best practices for the Software Validation Organization

Your Skills & Abilities

  • Recently completed or completing Master's degree in Spring 2026 in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Data Science, or related fields

  • Experience in software engineering; bonus if overlap in systems engineering, robotics, systems analysis, data analysis, statistical analysis, or other related fields

  • Strong skills in utilizing AI to accelerate SW development

  • Experienced with SQL, Python, and C++ for analyzing large data sets and building production-quality simulation testing products

  • Strong analytical thinking skills with the ability to interpret data and derive impactful conclusions

  • Ability to adapt and operate under ambiguity, going from quick code prototypes to long-term plans on brief time horizons

  • Excellent communication skills, capable of switching between high-level and detailed discussions

What Will Give You A Competitive Edge

  • Proven track record of successful software engineering on a safety-critical projects, especially as it related to verification and validation tools

  • Experience with robotics, autonomous vehicles, vehicle development, or ADAS development

  • Experience working with robotics simulation environments

  • Experience analyzing automotive collision data

  • Experience developing dashboards and data visualizations using tools such as Looker or Jupyter notebooks

Compensation :

The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paidin accordance withapplicable state laws. The compensation may not be representative for positionslocatedoutside of New York, Colorado, California, or Washington.

  • The salary range for this roleis$99,400 - $153,900.The actual basesalarya successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.

  • Bonus Potential: An incentivepayprogram offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.

Benefits:

  • Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs.Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuitionassistanceprograms, employeeassistanceprogram, GM vehicle discounts and more.

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.

Accommodations

General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.


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About General Motors

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General Motors is a company with global scale and capabilities, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, with employees around the world. The company employs over 165,000 people, serves six continents, operates across 22 time zones, and has a diverse workforce speaking 75 languages1. GM’s vision is to drive the world forward by pioneering innovations that move and connect people to what matters. The company is working towards an all-electric future with its new Ultium Platform and is pushing transportation options beyond our wildest imaginations with autonomous vehicles. GM is also committed to becoming the most inclusive company in the world.

Industry

Transportation equipment manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Detroit, MI, US

Year founded

1908