Senior Staff Lidar Systems Architect

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. What we are looking for 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’re searching for a Senior Staff Lidar Sensor Architect. This position will be responsible for defining the next-generation architecture of our high-performance lidar systems. The role will bridge the gap between high-level lidar performance requirements and practical hardware implementation. The primary focus of the position will be electrical and firmware partitioning and defining the interfaces between the photonic module of the lidar and the electrical and computing systems driving and supporting it, while optimizing for performance, scalability, and automotive reliability. In this role you will Be responsible for the lidar sensor system architecture including functional decomposition, module definition, and electrical to photonic interface definition. Translate top-level functional requirements into detailed requirements for design teams including EE, ME, and FW Partner and collaborate with EE, Embedded FW/SW, integrated photonics, and ME design teams to balance tradeoffs between mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical requirements. Lead strategy for architectural evolution between lidar generations, particularly in EE and FW domains, to reduce cost, power, and size of sensor Drive initial bring-up and debugging for key electrical-to-photonic interfaces and modules. Author technical documentation including architecture diagrams, theory of operation documents, hardware/software interfaces, DFMEA, etc. Required qualifications PhD or MS in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field with 8+ years of relevant experience, or a BS with 12+ years of experience. Deep understanding of active sensors including lidar, radar, or spectral imaging systems. Proven track record of architecting complex sensing systems, specifically defining EE/FW partitions and high-speed data interfaces. Proficiency in system simulation and modeling and familiarity with high-performance FPGA/SoC architectures. Desirable qualifications Experience with Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICS) and the unique challenges of integrating them with standard electronics OR experience with defining system architecture and specifications for sensor ASICs / ROICs and working with vendors on physical implementation. Experience taking high-performance sensors from initial R&D through mass manufacturing and field validation. Familiarity with ISO 26262, ASIL requirements, and AEC-Q100/200 component qualification. The base salary range for this position is $197,000 - $285,000 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. 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. For California applicants, information collected and processed as part of your application and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Aurora’s California Employment Privacy Policy.