Director of Autonomy Software | Lead Safety-Critical Stack

Fruition Group US; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 285,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Fruition Group US seeks a Director of Software Engineering, Autonomy to lead the software organization behind the autonomy stack—perception, planning, decision-making, and safety validation. You will steer architecture direction while remaining credible on implementation details and will guide a multi-team team across perception, planning/controls, and safety software.

The role requires 10+ years in autonomous systems with 5+ years leading large teams, strong C++ and real-time experience, and a

Qualifications

• 10+ years of software engineering in autonomous systems, robotics, or ADAS/AV with 5+ years leading multi-team orgs.
• Deep background in two or more areas: perception/sensor fusion, planning/controls, safety-critical embedded software, or autonomy systems architecture.
• Experience with functional safety standards (ISO 26262, ISO 21448/SOTIF, DO-178C) and building or contributing to a safety case.
• Strong C++, real-time systems, and large-scale software architecture for autonomy stacks.
• Track record of shipping autonomy software from lab to real-world operation.
• Excellent cross-functional communication across engineering, safety, and business.

Responsibilities

• Set the technical vision and roadmap for the autonomy software stack from perception to safety validation.
• Lead and scale a multi-team software organization (15–30+ engineers across several sub-teams).
• Balance shipping velocity with safety rigor and accountability.
• Drive the software safety case and validation strategy with systems safety and V&V teams.
• Partner with hardware, product, and operations leaders to align roadmap with milestones.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop engineering managers and senior ICs in the autonomy org.

Skills

Autonomous systems

Robotics

Leadership

C++

Real-time systems

Safety-critical

Sensor fusion

System architecture

ISO 26262

Job description

Fruition Group US seeks a Director of Software Engineering, Autonomy to lead the software organization behind the autonomy stack—perception, planning, decision-making, and safety validation. You will steer architecture direction while remaining credible on implementation details and will guide a multi-team team across perception, planning/controls, and safety software.

The role requires 10+ years in autonomous systems with 5+ years leading large teams, strong C++ and real-time experience, and a