Senior Software Engineer: Platform Software and Services

Zoox; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 264,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology! As a software engineer on the Robot Software Infrastructure team, you will tackle complex challenges in developing platform software for autonomous vehicles. Your role will involve designing and building systems that ensure seamless operation across a fleet of vehicles, working with cutting-edge technology in an innovative environment. If you're passionate about robotics and software engineering, this is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in the future of mobility. Be part of a collaborative team that values diverse perspectives and is committed to excellence.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Paid Time Off

Long-Term Care Insurance

Life Insurance

Short-Term Disability Insurance

Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights

Amazon RSUs

Sign-On Bonus

Qualifications

• Solid understanding of operating system internals and Linux.
• Experience with device drivers and software build systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain Zoox custom operating system.
• Manage software build and authorization systems.

Skills

Operating System Internals

Linux

Device Drivers

Networking Fundamentals

C/C++ Programming

Scripting Languages (Bash, Python)

Software Build Systems

Architecture Design

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Related Field

Graduate Degree in Computer Science or Related Field

Tools

Yocto

U-Boot

systemd

Job description

Zoox's Robot Software Infrastructure team is seeking a passionate software engineer to advance the platform software powering multiple devices in our autonomous vehicles. This team develops platform-level software, including operating systems that enable the execution of complex, hardware-accelerated workloads critical for autonomous driving on automotive-grade hardware. We work closely with cross-functional teams, collaborating with developers, release management, and operations teams to support vehicle development and deployment at scale.

Example challenges:

1. How does a vehicle know what to do when it wakes up?
2. How can a vehicle fleet determine which software to install or update for a ride-share 24/7 mission?

Our team tackles these challenges by designing and building runtime configuration systems and tools to ensure seamless operation and updates across the entire vehicle fleet. If you’re passionate about solving complex problems and have a strong sense of how components fit into a broader robotaxi ecosystem, this is the team for you!

In this role, you’ll join a growing team that is responsible for:

• Developing and maintaining Zoox custom operating system
• Kernel selection, configuration, and device driver updates including GPU drivers
• Development of system services, operating system build tools, and installation tools
• Managing the software build and authorization systems
• Designing and developing in-field update mechanisms and operating system validation plans
• Implementing OS security features
• Defining modes and mechanisms to audit and control software and hardware configurations at run-time
• Enabling adaptive runtime behavior for various scenarios
• Managing hardware-in-the-loop continuous integration (HIL and CI) infrastructure

Qualifications

• Solid understanding of operating system internals
• Strong experience in Linux, build systems like Yocto, and bootloaders like U-Boot, Linux init systems (e.g., systemd), Linux containerization (e.g., chroot, cgroups, namespaces), filesystems, networking, build systems, and device drivers
• Strong understanding of networking fundamentals and client & server model
• Expertise in device drivers and kernel-space code
• Experience with software build and update systems
• Experience in designing architectures for large, complex software systems
• Proven track record in delivering production systems and software applications
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in languages like C or C++ (without automatic memory management) and scripting languages like Bash or Python
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience

Bonus Qualifications

• Familiarity with security software: PKI, secure boot, hardware key storage, etc.
• Expertise in GPU hardware and software architecture
• Experience with robotics or autonomous driving technologies
• Graduate degree in computer science or closely related field

Compensation

There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. The salary range for this position is $165,000 to $264,000. A sign-on bonus may be offered as part of the compensation package. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level. Leveling, as well as positioning within a level, is determined by a range of factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's relevant years of experience, domain knowledge, and interview performance. The salary range listed in this posting is representative of the range of levels Zoox is considering for this position.

Zoox also offers a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (e.g. sick leave, vacation, bereavement), unpaid time off, Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights, Amazon RSUs, health insurance, long-term care insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, and life insurance.

About Zoox

Zoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility-as-a-service in urban environments. We’re looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team.

Accommodations

If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to [e-mail] or your assigned recruiter.

A Final Note:

You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.