System Engineer - Motion Control

Tensor Auto; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Tensor is a global leader in autonomous driving technologies, headquartered in San Jose. The role focuses on defining requirements for motion control actuators and coordinating cross‑functional teams to ensure safety, performance, and reliability in the autonomous driving system.

The candidate brings a strong background in robotics or engineering, with 3+ years in motion control or safety-critical domains and a solid systems engineering foundation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in robotics, CS, aerospace, systems engineering, transportation engineering, physics, or related field.
• Minimum 3+ years designing or testing motion control systems in automotive or safety-critical domains.
• Strong systems engineering foundations in requirements, formal verification and validation, and simulation.

Responsibilities

• Define and manage requirements for motion control actuators — including steering, braking and/or powertrain — considering vehicle dynamics and safety constraints.
• Design and analyze testing to verify safety-critical parameters, ensuring autonomous driving performance and controllability.
• Lead architecture discussions focusing on motion planning and control performance, fault tolerance and reliability.
• Oversee implementation of requirements and desired architecture with teams across the company and external partners.
• Assess the electrical, mechanical and software architecture of motion planning and control system, and contribute to hardware or software design reviews.
• Coordinate integration of motion control actuators into the autonomous driving system, from prototype development through fleet deployment.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Physics, or related field

Job description

About Tensor

Tensor is an agentic AI company dedicated to building agentic products that empower individual consumers. Our flagship product, the Tensor Robocar, is the world’s first personal Robocar and the first AI agentic vehicle — fully autonomous, automotive-grade, and built for private ownership at scale. Founded in 2016 in Silicon Valley, Tensor is headquartered in San Jose, California, with offices in Barcelona, Singapore, and Dubai. At Tensor, we champion personal AI autonomy and ownership. Our vision is to build a future where everyone owns their own Artificial General Intelligence — a personal AGI that enables more time, freedom, and autonomy. We’re forging an alternative path where AGI serves only you, and is controlled solely by you.

We provide a competitive compensation package, opportunities for professional growth, participation in a discretionary equity incentive plan, and access to a comprehensive company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.

Join us to shape the future! Work with brilliant minds on technology transforming automotive industry and make a lasting impact.

Tensor is a global leader in self-driving car technology, driven by our mission to "Democratize Autonomy" and accelerate the advent of fully driverless cars. Our cutting-edge self-driving cars are designed to tackle the most complex and dynamic traffic environments, from bustling city streets to ever-changing urban landscapes. In 2020, we became the second company to secure a fully driverless passenger vehicle permit in California — a key milestone in autonomy. With a world-class team of engineers and R&D centers across the U.S. and beyond, Tensor continues to innovate.

Join us to shape the future! Work with brilliant minds on technology transforming automotive industry and make a lasting impact.

Locations

• San Jose, California, US (Salary Range: $75k—$300k USD)
• Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
• Singapore
• Dubai, UAE

Responsibilities

• Define and manage requirements for motion control actuators — including steering, braking and/or powertrain - considering vehicle dynamics, control and sensing constraints to ensure optimal safety and performance of the autonomous driving system;
• Design and analyze testings to verify safety-critical parameters, ensuring the autonomous vehicle's performance and controllability;
• Lead architecture discussions focusing on motion planning and control performance, fault tolerance and reliability;
• Oversee implementation of requirements and desired architecture with teams across the company and external partners;
• Assess the electrical, mechanical and software architecture of motion planning and control system, and contribute to hardware or software design reviews;
• Coordinate integration of motion control actuators into the autonomous driving system, from prototype development through fleet deployment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degrees in Robotics, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Physics, or related field;
• 3+ years of experience designing or testing motion control related systems, particularly automotive, aerospace or other safety critical systems;
• Strong foundation in system engineering principles such as requirements definition, formal verification and validation methods, and simulation;
• Strong documentation, data analysis and algorithmic problem-solving skills;
• Highly collaborative in nature and comfortable working with a large number of global stakeholders.

Preferences

• Experience working at an automotive OEM or supplier, specifically on motion control actuation systems;
• Experience working on ADAS or other autonomous driving automotive systems;
• Experience working with standard automotive development processes including project gateways, phases etc.

We appreciate your interest in joining Tensor. Tensor is an equal employment opportunity employer, dedicated to fostering a respectful, supportive, and inclusive workplace for all. We do not discriminate against, and strictly prohibit harassment of, any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Tensor also considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with applicable laws. We are committed to providing equal opportunities for qualified individuals with disabilities. Tensor is an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.