Autonomous Vehicle Operator - Data Collection (San Francisco)

Job Description

Job Description

Autonomous Vehicle Operator - Data Collection (San Francisco)

·       Job Type: Full-time (On-site)

·       Contract Type: Ongoing W2 Contract

·       Pay Rate: $28.00/hr, plus a $0.50/hr increase every 6 months based on tenure

·       Location: San Francisco, CA. New hires train on-site in Sunnyvale, CA for the first few weeks, then work on-site in San Francisco long-term.

·       Schedule (5 days/week):

o   2:00 PM – 10:30 PM: Fri-Tue

·       Evaluation Process:
Recruiter Screening → MVR → Onsite Interview (Behavioral Interview + Drive Test) → Offer / Rejection within 2 days

Company Overview

The company is a software and AI company, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Mountain View, CA, that builds tools for developing, testing, and deploying autonomous and intelligent vehicle systems. It partners with automakers and with trucking, defense, construction, and robotics companies to advance self-driving and driver-assistance technology. Its platforms support simulation, data collection, vehicle software development, and safe validation of autonomous systems before real-world deployment.

Role Overview

Vehicle Operators manually drive test vehicles on assigned routes to collect the real-world driving data that powers the company’s self-driving technology. The ideal candidate is a safe, attentive, and dependable driver with basic technical aptitude and a clean driving record.

Day-in-the-Life & Key Responsibilities:

·       Data Collection Driving: Drive test vehicles on assigned routes to capture real-world driving data.

·       Vehicle Inspections: Perform inspections to confirm vehicles are safe and ready for operation.

·       Issue Documentation: Document any vehicle or route issues encountered during drives.

·       Engineering Feedback: Share observations and feedback with engineers to help improve the technology.

Candidate Profiles & Disqualifiers

Target Experience & Qualifications

This outlines the profile that will have the highest likelihood of success during the interview process and on the job.

·       Driving Experience: 3+ years of professional driving experience (1 year minimum), clearly shown on the resume.

·       Driving Background: High-volume, customer-facing local driving, such as Amazon DSP/Flex, DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Instacart.

·       Current Activity: Currently active in a driving-related role at the time of application.

·       License & Record: Valid US driver's license held for 3+ years, no moving violations in the past 12 months, and no DUIs.

·       Education: High school diploma or GED preferred. Avoid candidates with a bachelor's degree or higher unless their driving background is exceptionally strong, as they have historically shown lower retention.

·       Soft Skills: Strong communication (written and verbal), critical thinking, problem-solving, and comfort learning new software.

Preferred / Bonus Experience

·       Prior autonomous vehicle (AV) industry experience.

·       Job stability, with at least one position held for 3+ years.

·       Supplemental backgrounds in:

o   Healthcare / Caregiving: Paratransit, IHSS, medical transport

o   Administrative / Office Support: Office Administrator, Administrative Assistant, Executive Assistant

o   Operations / Leadership: Store Manager, Team Lead, Shift Supervisor

Disqualifiers & Red Flags

This outlines the threshold for submission (things we are not willing to bend on even if the candidate seems good otherwise) and absolute disqualifiers.

·       Wrong Profile:

o   Driving experience limited exclusively to long-haul trucking, limousine, bus, or shuttle driving, with no gig, delivery, or high-frequency local driving.

o   Holds a bachelor's degree without substantial driving experience to offset it.

·       Disqualifiers:

o   No professional driving experience on the resume, or less than 1 year.

o   Driving history does not cover the last 3 years.

o   Cannot clear the MVR, background check, or drug screening.

o   Unable to train on-site in Sunnyvale for the first few weeks, then work on-site in San Francisco long-term.

o   Unable to commit to the 2:00 PM – 10:30 PM, Friday–Tuesday shift.

o   Poor communication skills or lack of interest in the role or company.

Ascent Placement Partners is a leadership focused staffing firm dedicated to helping organizations reach the peak of excellence by identifying the leaders who make the difference. We believe that every successful organization has a defining leader, the one who completes the climb, elevates performance, and unlocks the next level of growth.
Our approach goes beyond filling roles. We take the time to understand each company’s vision, culture, and challenges to identify leaders who align strategically and inspire meaningful impact. By combining deep market insight with a consultative, relationship driven process, we connect organizations with proven talent capable of driving sustainable success.

Company Description

Ascent Placement Partners is a leadership focused staffing firm dedicated to helping organizations reach the peak of excellence by identifying the leaders who make the difference. We believe that every successful organization has a defining leader, the one who completes the climb, elevates performance, and unlocks the next level of growth. \rOur approach goes beyond filling roles. We take the time to understand each company’s vision, culture, and challenges to identify leaders who align strategically and inspire meaningful impact. By combining deep market insight with a consultative, relationship driven process, we connect organizations with proven talent capable of driving sustainable success.