Senior Staff TLM, Security Systems

Aurora; Louisville (CO); Remote; USD 190,000 - 340,000; Full time

Job summary

Aurora is seeking a Senior Staff TLM (Security Systems) to bridge Systems Engineering, Product Security, and hardware/software teams. You will translate architecture and regulatory requirements into concrete design specs, threat models, and verification plans for a security‑centric autonomous vehicle platform.

The role emphasizes hands‑on engineering, requirement definition, and secure integration across safety compute stacks and cloud telemetry.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in systems/embedded/product security engineering in safety‑critical domains.
• Proven ability to write system requirements and ICDs with traceability.
• Experience threat modeling (TARA/STRIDE) on cyber‑physical systems.
• Cross‑functional leadership across software, hardware, and safety teams.

Responsibilities

• Define system security requirements and interfaces across vehicle compute and networks.
• Lead threat modeling and risk analyses for safety‑critical ECUs and telemetry.
• Coordinate hardware security anchors and secure boot chains with teams.
• Align security with ISO 26262 and ISO/SAE 21434 alongside functional safety.
• Lead security verification plans and HIL/vehicle‑level testing.
• Develop supplier security specifications for components and Tier‑1s.

Skills

Threat modeling

Security requirements

Cross‑functional leadership

System security controls

Regulatory alignment (ISO/SAE 21434)

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in CS/CE/EE/Cybersecurity

Tools

JAMA

JIRA

DOORS

TLS/SecOC

Job description

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

The mission of Aurora’s Systems Engineering team is to architect, validate, and integrate complex hardware, software, and safety-critical operations into a cohesive autonomous vehicle platform.

As a Senior Staff TLM (Technical Lead Manager), Security Systems you will be the technical anchor bridging Systems Engineering, Product Security, and Autonomous Vehicle Hardware/Software teams. You will focus on the hands‑on engineering, requirement definition, threat modeling, and system integration required to build security directly into Aurora’s autonomous vehicle hardware architecture, safety compute stack, and cloud telemetry.

You will translate high-level security architecture and regulatory requirements into concrete system‑level design specs, trade studies, interface definitions, and verification plans. Your role is critical in ensuring that cybersecurity is engineered into our platform as a core engineering property alongside functional safety, system performance, and reliability.

The job level is negotiable based on experience. Flexible work locations are available MTV preferred, SFO, PIT, SEA, BJC, DET, BZN for US‑based employees (Full remote is not available for this role).

In this role, you will

• Define System Security Requirements & Interfaces: Translate architectural security goals into detailed, testable system and sub‑system security requirements across vehicle compute, sensor suites, internal networks (CAN, Automotive Ethernet), and cloud gateways.
• Conduct System‑Level Threat Modeling & Risk Analysis: Perform hands‑on systems threat modeling (e.g., TARA, STRIDE) and vulnerability impact analyses on safety‑critical ECUs, onboard compute platforms, and telemetry links to ensure robust defense‑in‑depth.
• Execute Trade Studies & Technical Integration: Partner with Hardware and Embedded Software teams to lead trade studies on hardware security anchors (HSM, TPM, TrustZone), secure boot chains, onboard key management, and cryptographic overhead on real‑time execution.
• Bridge Systems, Security, and Safety Engineering: Work directly with Safety Engineers (ISO 26262) and Security Architects (ISO/SAE 21434) to align system fault mitigation with security threat response, ensuring security defenses never compromise vehicle functional safety.
• Lead System Security Verification & Validation (V&V): Define security test plans, trace requirements through the V‑model, and collaborate with validation teams to execute hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) and vehicle‑level security verification.
• Drive Supplier & Tier‑1 Technical Specifications: Author technical security requirements for component suppliers and Tier‑1 hardware partners, evaluating technical compliance during integration.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in systems engineering, embedded systems engineering, or product security engineering within automotive, robotics, aerospace, or safety‑critical hardware/software systems.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related STEM field.
• Demonstrated expertise in system‑level security controls, including hardware security modules (HSMs/TPMs), secure boot chains, applied cryptography, and secure communication protocols (e.g., SecOC, TLS, secure CAN/Ethernet).
• Proven experience writing technical system requirements, defining ICDs (Interface Control Documents), and performing requirements traceability using systems engineering tools (e.g., JAMA, JIRA, DOORS).
• Hands‑on experience performing threat modeling (TARA, STRIDE) and failure mode analysis on complex cyber‑physical or embedded systems.
• Excellent cross‑functional technical leadership skills, with a track record of driving system‑level decisions across software, hardware, and safety teams.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience with and knowledge of automotive and cloud security standards and regulations, such as ISO/SAE 21434, ASPICE, ISO 27001 or UNECE R155/R156.
• Practical experience engineering systems that interface safety‑critical autonomous compute stacks with off‑board telemetry or cloud control infrastructures.
• Hands‑on experience with hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) testing, penetration testing coordination, or vulnerability remediation on physical systems
• Experience aligning functional safety (HARA) and cybersecurity (TARA) analyses to manage co‑dependent vehicle risks.
• Strong foundation of experience to successfully engage, communicate and influence OEMs, Tier‑1s, Suppliers, or commercial partners in order to further Aurora’s security posture.
• Experience building and scaling security architecture frameworks from the ground up in safety‑critical or heavily regulated industries.
• Advanced security architecture or engineering certifications such as CISSP‑ISSAP, CISM, or equivalent.

For roles based in Mountain View, CA and Seattle, WA: The salary range for this position is $212,000 - $340,000 per year.

For roles based in Pittsburgh, PA: The salary range for this position is $191,000 - $306,000 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, Aurorans are expected to work from the office at least 3 days per week, with some roles requiring more frequent in‑office presence, up to 5 days per week, based on operational needs.

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 [e-mail].

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.