Director of Engineering, Autonomy
Location
Seattle, WA
Level
Manager / Director
Department
Robotics & Automation
Type
Salary
$185,000 - $308,000
Job Description
Posted on:
2026-02-24
Responsibilities
- Lead the technical direction, architecture, and execution of the autonomy stack, including perception, navigation, controls, and mission logic.
- Contribute directly to algorithm design, implementation, prototyping, debugging, and optimization on embedded robotic platforms.
- Oversee planning and delivery of autonomy features and releases, ensuring high-quality execution and alignment with product and mission needs.
- Work side-by-side with engineers through code reviews, design discussions, and hands-on technical contributions.
- Mentor engineers and technical leads, promoting strong engineering fundamentals and continuous improvement.
- Establish and uphold best practices in autonomy development, including coding standards, testing, and validation processes.
- Collaborate closely with software, embedded, hardware, product, and operations teams to integrate autonomy capabilities into complete UAV systems.
Job Requirements
- Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- 8–10+ years of experience developing autonomy, robotics, or real-time software systems, with 3–5+ years in a technical leadership role.
- Proven track record of delivering complex autonomy or robotics systems end-to-end.
- Strong proficiency in C++ and Python, with experience in writing and reviewing high-quality, real-time production code.
- Deep technical strength in at least one autonomy domain (e.g., SLAM/VIO, GNSS/INS fusion).
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, capable of diagnosing complex system-level issues.
- Strong project leadership skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple technical threads.
