Senior Systems Engineer – Autonomy Behavior

Jobtailor; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to define and validate autonomous vehicle behavior in real-world conditions. You will own end-to-end validation from initial scoping through product launch, using simulations, road-data review, and release recommendations.

The role requires strong systems engineering fundamentals, Python for data analysis, and the ability to manage stakeholder expectations across teams.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a technical field (systems/engineering, aerospace, mechanical, electrical, CS, robotics).
• 5+ years of professional experience in systems engineering, autonomous vehicles, robotics, simulation, or safety-critical validation.
• Experience evaluating autonomous vehicles for commercial fleet launches.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering fundamentals and traceability.
• Experience designing or executing large-scale simulation-based evaluations.
• Proficiency in Python for data analysis, test automation, and simulation workflows.

Responsibilities

• Define and validate autonomous vehicle behavior in real-world conditions.
• Own behavior areas from requirements through simulation evaluation, road-data review, and release recommendation.
• Translate product and safety goals into behavior definitions, testable requirements, metrics, test plans, and evidence.
• Own end-to-end validation for autonomous driving behaviors from scoping to product launch.
• Combine simulation, road data, closed-course testing, and expert review across large scenario sets and fleet configurations.
• Define, deploy, and refine metrics, test strategies, and acceptance criteria for simulation and road evaluation.
• Partner with autonomy teams and external teams to assess readiness for release and launch decisions.

Skills

Python for data analysis

Systems Engineering

Requirements authoring

Verification planning

Traceability

Data analysis

Test automation

Simulation workflows

Behavior definition

Acceptance criteria

Written communication

Verbal communication

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Education

Master’s degree in systems engineering / engineering / CS / robotics

Job description

• Define and validate autonomous vehicle behavior in real-world conditions
• Own one or more behavior areas from requirements through simulation evaluation, road-data review, and release recommendation
• Translate product and safety goals into behavior definitions, testable requirements, metrics, test plans, and evidence
• Own end-to-end validation for autonomous driving behaviors from initial scoping and requirements definition to product launch
• Combine simulation, road data, closed-course testing, and expert review across large scenario sets, conditions, software versions, and fleet configurations
• Define, deploy, and refine metrics, test strategies, and acceptance criteria for simulation and road evaluation
• Partner with autonomy teams and external teams to assess, author, and present behavior readiness for release and launch decisions

Requirements

• Master’s degree in systems engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, robotics, or a related field
• 5 or more years of professional experience in systems engineering, autonomous vehicles, robotics, simulation, or safety-critical validation
• Proven experience evaluating autonomous vehicles in support of a commercial fleet launch
• Strong understanding of systems engineering fundamentals, including system decomposition, use-case definition, requirements authoring, interface definition, verification planning, and traceability
• Professional experience designing or executing simulation-based evaluations at scale
• Strong Python experience for data analysis, test automation, simulation workflows, and engineering tools, with exposure to agentic workflows
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage stakeholders, resolve ambiguity, set expectations, and drive work to completion
• Applicants may be required to successfully complete role-related assessments and/or pre-employment screening, where applicable

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in defining and validating autonomous vehicle behavior through simulation and real-world evaluations, with a strong foundation in systems engineering principles and metrics development. Proven ability to manage stakeholder expectations and drive projects from requirements definition to product launch.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Master's Degree in Engineering or Related Field
• 5+ Years in Systems Engineering or Autonomous Vehicles
• Strong Python Experience for Data Analysis
• Simulation-Based Evaluations at Scale
• Requirements Authoring and Verification Planning

Hard Skills

• Systems Engineering Fundamentals
• Requirements Authoring
• Interface Definition
• Verification Planning
• Traceability
• Simulation Workflows
• Test Automation
• Data Analysis
• Behavior Definition
• Acceptance Criteria Development

Soft Skills

• Strong Written Communication
• Strong Verbal Communication
• Stakeholder Management
• Expectation Setting
• Problem Solving

Industry Keywords

• Autonomous Vehicles
• Robotics
• Safety-Critical Validation
• Commercial Fleet Launch
• Simulation Evaluation