Senior Software Engineer - Fallback Stack
Applied Compute
Location
Sunnyvale
Employment Type
Full time
Department
Self-Driving Systems
About the role
We are looking for a software architect to own the fallback stack for our L4 trucking program. You will define how the vehicle detects uncertainty, executes minimal risk maneuvers, and set an architecture that scales across trucking and future autonomy programs.
At Applied Intuition, you will:
Define the architecture for the L4 trucking fallback stack, including interfaces to perception, behavior, planning, control, and the primary autonomy stack.
Design strategies for degraded driving, minimal risk maneuvers, and transitions to remote assistance.
Specify and review algorithms that detect autonomy degradation and trigger appropriate fallback behaviors or remote intervention.
Work closely with behavior, planning, and perception engineers to align safety logic and trajectories with fallback requirements and ODD constraints.
Architect and refine interfaces between the vehicle stack and the remote assistance platform for tele-guidance and safe maneuver completion.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship as we build the fallback stack team, influencing decisions across trucking and future SDS programs.
We're looking for someone who has:
Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
6+ years of experience building autonomy software for L4 autonomous driving systems.
Strong programming skills in C++.
Experience designing or implementing fallback or degraded driving behaviors in an autonomous driving stack.
Hands-on experience integrating multiple autonomy subsystems into a cohesive system architecture.
Nice to have:
Experience on L4 trucking or robotaxi programs, especially around degraded driving, fallback behavior, or safety-critical autonomy.
Experience with remote operations, tele-guidance, or remote assistance systems for autonomous vehicles or robots.
Depth in perception, behavior/decision-making, or motion planning for edge cases, fallback scenarios, or human-intervention handoffs.
Familiarity with automotive safety and autonomy standards (for example, ISO 26262, ISO 21448, UL 4600) or similar frameworks.
Experience defining and validating metrics and scenarios for autonomy performance and safety near operational limits.
Prior experience helping to build a new autonomy capability or team from scratch.
Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.
Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.
Please reference the job posting’s subtitle for where this position will be located. For pay transparency purposes, the base salary range for this full-time position in the location listed is: $145,000 - $245,000 USD annually.