Senior Staff / Principal Software Engineer - Freeway Autonomy

Zoox
Zoox

Software Engineering

Foster City, CA, USA

USD 340k-493k / year + Equity

Posted on Sep 1, 2026

Zoox is on an ambitious journey to develop a full-stack autonomous robotaxi solution, and freeways are the next frontier. We are looking for a Senior Staff or Principal Software Engineer who has played a significant role in removing the driver from an autonomous vehicle operating on freeways, and who can help Zoox navigate that same journey. You will bring deep technical expertise in a relevant autonomy domain — the specific domain is flexible — along with the hard-won judgment that comes from having taken a freeway driving program from supervised operation to driverless. This is a highly visible role with broad influence across the Autonomy organization.

In this role, you will:

  • Guide autonomy-wide initiatives toward driverless freeway operation, including setting the technical vision and strategy, building the roadmap, and driving cross-functional execution

  • Identify the highest-risk gaps between our current freeway capabilities and driver-out readiness, and lead the engineering work to close them

  • Develop algorithms that enable freeway driving capabilities, spanning architecture, design, implementation, integration, testing, and verification and validation

  • Communicate technical trade-offs, risk assessments, and readiness recommendations to diverse stakeholders, including senior and executive leadership

  • Mentor engineers across the freeway program and raise the bar for how we design, test, and validate high-speed autonomous driving

Qualifications:

  • 10+ years of industry software experience

  • Demonstrated technical leadership of removing the human driver from an autonomous vehicle operating on freeways or highways

  • Deep technical expertise in at least one autonomy domain, such as behavior/motion planning, perception, prediction, simulation, or systems engineering

  • Proven ability to lead large, cross-functional engineering efforts from ambiguity to shipped results

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical trade-offs for varied audiences including executives

Bonus Qualifications:

  • Experience scaling and operating a driverless service after driver removal

  • Experience constructing safety cases or defining driver-out readiness criteria for high-speed autonomous driving

  • Proficiency in C++

340000 - 493000 USD a year

Base Salary Range
There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. A sign-on bonus may be offered as part of the compensation package. The listed range applies only to the base salary. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level. Leveling, as well as positioning within a level, is determined by a range of factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's relevant years of experience, domain knowledge, and interview performance. The salary range listed in this posting is representative of the range of levels Zoox is considering for this position.
Zoox also offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including paid time off (e.g. sick leave, vacation, bereavement), unpaid time off, Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights, Amazon RSUs, health insurance, long-term care insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, and life insurance.
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