Staff Software Engineer, Performance and Optimization

Who we are

Aurora's mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly.

The Aurora Driver will create a new era in mobility and logistics, one that will bring a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future to everyone.

At Aurora, you will tackle massively complex problems alongside other passionate, intelligent individuals, growing as an expert while expanding your knowledge. For the latest news from Aurora, visit aurora.tech or follow us on LinkedIn.

Aurora hires talented people with diverse backgrounds who are ready to help build a transportation ecosystem that will make our roads safer, get crucial goods where they need to go, and make mobility more efficient and accessible for all.


We are looking for a Senior Staff Software Engineer to join our Performance Engineering and Optimization (PeO) team. As a technical leader in this high-impact group, you will spearhead efforts to push the boundaries of our system's efficiency, ensuring our technology remains at the forefront of the industry. This is a rare opportunity to own the performance roadmap for a commercialized product, tackling complex, large-scale engineering challenges that directly influence the reliability and speed of our fielded environment.

In this role you will

• Lead cross-functional performance initiatives to identify and resolve systemic bottlenecks, significantly improving end-to-end latency and system throughput.
• Architect and implement advanced system instrumentation frameworks to provide deep visibility into modern OS-level performance metrics.
• Drive the technical strategy for C/C++ optimization, mentoring junior engineers and establishing best practices for high-performance systems-level programming.
• Collaborate with product and infrastructure teams to ensure that performance remains a core pillar throughout the product lifecycle, from initial design to field deployment.
• Analyze and interpret complex telemetry data from fielded environments to proactively address performance regressions and optimize resource utilization.

Required qualifications

• 8-10+ years of professional experience in systems-level programming
• Lead C/C++ optimization and system instrumentation to improve latency and throughput.
• Experience delivering and supporting a commercialized product in a fielded environment.
• Hands-on expertise with modern OS-level instrumentation toolkits

Desirable qualifications

• Proven track record of technical leadership for large-scale performance engineering projects within the autonomous vehicle or robotics industry.
• Deep familiarity with Linux kernel internals, memory management, and hardware-software co-design principles.
• Experience with specialized profiling tools (e.g., eBPF, perf, or Ftrace) and automated performance regression testing suites.
• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field with a focus on systems performance.

The base salary range for this position is $189,000.00-$303,000.00 per year. Aurora's pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, the successful candidate's starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, relevant education or training, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.

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Working at Aurora At Aurora, we bring together extraordinarily talented and experienced people united by the strength of our values. We operate with integrity, set outrageous goals, and build a culture where we win together - all without any jerks.

We believe in-person work increases collaboration, empathy and our ability to lead effectively. As a result, we operate in a hybrid work environment where Aurorans are in office at least 3 days per week.

Our Careers page provides insight into what it is like to work at Aurora, and you can find all the latest updates in our Newsroom.

Our commitment to safety

At the core of everything we do is our commitment to safety. Building best-in-class self-driving technology will take time, and we believe that each employee at Aurora has a role in contributing to safety, every step of the way. Aurora expects commitment to our safety policies from every employee, and seeks candidates who take an active responsibility, can contribute to building an atmosphere of trust, and invest in the organization's long-term success by prioritizing working safely, no matter what.

Our commitment to inclusion

Aurora considers candidates without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy status, parent or caregiver status, ancestry, political affiliation, veteran and/or military status, physical or mental disability, or any other status protected by federal or state law. Aurora considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io.


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