Principal Software Engineer (Vehicle AI)

TL;DR

Principal Software Engineer (Vehicle AI): Designing and deploying low-latency, high-performance AI software for smart cabin initiatives with an accent on edge hardware optimization and automotive-grade compute platforms. Focus on architecting AI pipelines for natural language voice assistants and driver monitoring systems.

Location: Must be based in Mountain View, CA (Hybrid) or remote within Washington or California state

Salary: $216,400 - $274,000

Company

Global automotive leader focused on a world with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.

What you will do

• Design scalable, real-time software architectures for AI features on platforms like Qualcomm Snapdragon and NVIDIA DRIVE.
• Lead the deployment and optimization of ML models (LLMs, computer vision, audio) for edge devices using TensorRT and ONNX.
• Oversee the integration of AI pipelines with Android Automotive OS (AAOS) and QNX.
• Partner with product managers and hardware engineers to balance feature ambition with compute constraints.
• Mentor senior engineers and establish best practices for code quality, CI/CD, and system performance.
• Rapidly prototype new AI concepts and evaluate emerging frameworks.

Requirements

• 10+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• 3+ years in a technical leadership or architectural role.
• Expert proficiency in modern C++ (14/17/20) and Python.
• Proven track record of shipping commercial software in automotive infotainment, robotics, or embedded systems.
• Hands-on experience optimizing and deploying ML models to edge hardware (NPU/GPU/DSP).
• Deep understanding of POSIX-compliant OS, Linux internals, or RTOS (QNX, VxWorks).

Nice to have

• Experience with Android Automotive OS (AAOS) Vehicle HAL (VHAL) and native C++ services.
• Background in Voice Assistants (ASR, NLU, TTS) or Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS).
• Familiarity with automotive functional safety standards (ISO 26262, ASIL) and cybersecurity protocols.
• Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in AI, ML, or Embedded Systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Eligibility for a company vehicle evaluation program.
• Potential for relocation benefits.
• Comprehensive rewards and well-being support from day one.
• Commitment to a non-discriminatory, inclusive workplace that fosters belonging.