Nomadic Mission Operator (Contractor)

Latitude AI; Dearborn (MI); On-site; USD 46,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Airfare provided for travel

Job summary

Latitude AI in Dearborn, MI, is hiring a Test Driver for a 12-month contract tied to Ford’s autonomous driving program. You will drive development vehicles, collect data across states, and report on performance while maintaining safety protocols.

The role requires a valid license, passport, and willingness to travel six days per week when needed. Airfare is provided; the work weeks can be demanding, with a focus on precision and reliability.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED with two years of employment experience; Associate or Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Valid driver’s license in the state of residence and a clean driving record per MVR checks.
• Active passport or passport card.
• Ability to pass ten-panel drug screening and criminal background checks.
• Comfortable spending long hours driving and working in close quarters with others.
• Strong interest in technology and adaptability to challenges and changes.
• Technical proficiency with computers, e.g., typing and navigating web apps.
• Basic troubleshooting skills for software and hardware issues.
• Contributes to a positive and professional work environment; reliable and punctual.
• Curiosity and excitement about learning new technologies.

Responsibilities

• Drive test vehicles across multiple states, collect data on multi-day missions and transfer data to Latitude.
• Work a 6-day, up to 60-hour schedule (3 weeks on, 1 week off); airfare provided for travel.
• Perform daily start-up, system engagement/disengagement, and shutdown for development vehicles.
• Monitor and troubleshoot software and hardware systems while on the road.
• Execute data collection following strict safety and compliance protocols.
• Maintain accurate reports on system performance and data collection achievements.
• Represent the organization professionally while driving in public environments, prioritizing safety.

Skills

Driving proficiency

Technical troubleshooting

Professionalism

Curiosity

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate or Bachelor’s preferred

Tools

Vehicle diagnostics tools

Jira

Slack

Job description

Latitude AI (lat.ai ) is building the future of Ford’s autonomy roadmap to make travel safer, less stressful, and more enjoyable for everyone. Bringing this vision to scale, our fully in-house developed hands-free ADAS platform will debut on Ford’s all-new Universal Electric Vehicle in 2027.

When you join the Latitude team, you’ll work alongside leading experts across machine learning and robotics, cloud platforms, mapping, sensors and compute systems, test operations, systems and safety engineering – all dedicated to redefining the relationship between people and their vehicles for millions of customers.

As a Ford Motor Company subsidiary, we operate independently to develop automated driving technology at the speed of a technology startup. Latitude is headquartered in Pittsburgh with engineering centers in Dearborn, Mich., and Palo Alto, Calif.

Meet the team:

Fleet Operations is where cutting-edge technology meets real-world application. As a Test Driver, you’ll play a vital role in the development testing that drives software and performance improvements. Our dedication to precision shapes the future of driving.

What you’ll do:

• Drive test vehicles which may be across multiple states, collecting data on multi-day missions and facilitating the transfer of data back to Latitude.
• Operate on a 6-day, up to 60-hour workweek schedule, working 3 weeks on followed by 1 week off. Airfare will be provided for travel to and from a location.
• Perform daily start-up, system engagement/disengagement, and shutdown procedures for development vehicles.
• Actively monitor and troubleshoot both software and hardware systems while on the road.
• Execute data collection in accordance with strict safety and compliance protocols.
• Maintain accurate and detailed reports on system performance and data collection achievements.
• Represent the organization professionally and responsibly while driving in public environments, prioritizing the safety of all road users.

What you'll need to succeed:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent with two years of employment experience required. Associate or Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Must have a valid driver’s license in the state of residence and ability to meet Latitude AI’s minimum driving record requirements, as verified by Motor Vehicle Record background checks prior to hire and periodically thereafter.
• Must have an active passport or passport card.
• Ability to pass ten-panel drug screening and criminal background checks conducted prior to employment and periodically thereafter.
• Comfortable spending long hours driving and working in close quarters with others, maintaining professionalism and focus.
• Strong interest in technology, adapting quickly to challenges and embracing changes.
• Technical proficiency with computers; for example typing, checking network connections, navigating web-based applications.
• Basic troubleshooting skills with an ability to identify issues with both software and hardware.
• Contributes to a positive and professional work environment while working with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Capability to thrive autonomously or with limited oversight.
• A strong sense of responsibility and reliability—show up on time, ready to work every day.
• Curiosity and excitement about learning new technologies.

Nice to have:

• Prior experience in technical driving, fleet operations, or vehicle testing environments where compliance and adherence to procedures were crucial.
• Familiarity with vehicle diagnostics and data logging tools.
• Familiarity with work management tools like Jira, Slack, Driver Schedule, etc.

Please note: This is a 1 year (12 month) contract assignment.

Learn more about Latitude’s team, mission and career opportunities at lat.ai !

Candidates for positions with Latitude AI must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status.