System Engineer

Ouster, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Ouster, Inc. is seeking a skilled engineer in San Francisco to manage system-level requirements for their LIDAR sensing products. This role requires significant experience in functionally safe product development, particularly with ISO 26262 standards, and strong skills in Python.

The ideal candidate will also have a deep understanding of requirements management, including tools like Jama Connect, and experience in version control systems such as Git. The position offers a base salary between $160,000 and $185,000, depending on qualifications.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in systems engineering, with 3+ in functionally safe products.
• Hands-on knowledge and application of ISO 26262.
• Experience with requirements management tools.

Responsibilities

• Manage system-level requirements for functionally safe sensing products.
• Develop safety work products for design teams and assessors.
• Automate documentation processes using Python and AI tools.

Skills

System-level engineering

ISO 26262 knowledge

Python proficiency

Requirements management

Version control (Git)

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Jama Connect

Git

Job description

At Ouster, we design and manufacture LIDAR sensors for precision mapping, robotics, automotive, security systems, smart cities and various industrial solutions. We have transformed LIDAR from an analog device with thousands of components to an elegant digital device powered by one chip‑scale laser array and one CMOS sensor. The result is a full range of high‑resolution LIDAR sensors that deliver superior imaging at a dramatically lower price. If you’re motivated by solving big problems, we’re hiring key roles across the company and need your help!

The Role

We're seeking a proactive and skilled engineer who thrives in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment to be an integral part of our San Francisco hardware team.

What You Will Do

• Architect, define, produce, and manage system‑level requirements for functionally safe sensing products in compliance with standards like ISO 26262.
• Develop and maintain critical safety work products, including the Safety Plan, HARA, Functional Safety Concepts (FSC), and Technical Safety Concepts (TSC), for both internal design teams and external safety assessors.
• Responsible for comprehensive requirements management, ensuring end‑to‑end traceability from system requirements to hardware/software implementation and verification test cases.
• Leverage Python and AI tools to automate the generation of documentation, streamline verification processes, and create scripts for data analysis and reporting.
• Manage system engineering artifacts and documentation within version control repositories such as Git.
• Demonstrate hands‑on experience with the complete lifecycle of a functionally safe sensing product (e.g., radar, lidar, camera) used in automotive or industrial applications.
• Collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams, including hardware, software, and firmware engineers, to allocate requirements and ensure system‑wide safety goal alignment.
• Lead and contribute to system‑level verification and validation (V & V) activities, defining test strategies and ensuring comprehensive coverage of all safety requirements.
• Proven track record of successfully shipping at least one sensing product that has achieved ISO 26262 ASIL‑B certification or an equivalent functional safety standard.

Required (Basic Qualifications)

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a systems engineering role, with at least 3 years directly involved in the development of functionally safe products.
• Demonstrable, in‑depth knowledge and hands‑on application of ISO 26262, particularly Parts 3, 4, 5, and 6.
• At least 2 years of hands‑on experience using a dedicated requirements management tool, with a strong preference for Jama Connect.
• Proven proficiency in Python for the purpose of task automation, data processing, or verification scripting.
• Experience using version control systems like Git for managing engineering work products and documentation.
• Experience working across the full V‑model development lifecycle, from concept definition to system validation and release.

A Note on Experience

• We acknowledge the confidence gap at Ouster. You do not need to meet all of these requirements to be the ideal candidate for this role.

The base pay will be dependent on your skills, work experience, location, and qualifications. This role may also be eligible for equity and benefits. ( $160,000-185,000 )

Ouster is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that pursues and hires a diverse workforce. Ouster does not make employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender‑identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military status, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. Ouster also strives for a healthy and safe workplace, and prohibits harassment of any kind. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Ouster considers qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.