Vehicle Tester with Defensive Driving Skills

truckingpeople; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Pre-tax commuter benefits

FSA

Disability and life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

truckingpeople is seeking a Local Self-Driving Car Operator in Austin, TX for a 12-month contract. You will operate autonomous vehicles on public roads, perform safety checks, monitor systems, and provide feedback to engineers and test teams.

No CDL required; experience with autonomous vehicles and familiarity with Austin traffic rules are preferred. Local applicants only, with a strong safety mindset and clear communication skills.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of U.S. driving experience with a valid driver's license.
• Clean driving record (no DUIs or drug/alcohol offenses in the past 5 years).
• Ability to drive safely under all road and weather conditions.
• Familiarity with Austin traffic laws and routes.
• Excellent communication skills and attention to detail.
• Professional, reliable, and safety-focused.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate autonomous vehicles on public roads to collect performance and environmental data.
• Perform daily safety checks and ensure vehicles are ready for operation.
• Monitor vehicle systems in real time and document system behavior.
• Collaborate with engineers, operations teams, and test riders professionally.
• Respond quickly to unexpected events or road hazards.
• Stay focused and maintain high safety standards at all times.

Skills

Driving experience

Clean driving record

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Safety-focused

Job description

LOCAL Self-Driving Car Operator (No CDL Required)
Location: Austin, TX (Local Applicants Only)
Assignment Length: 12-Month Contract

Schedule & Pay

• AM Shift: 6:00 AM – 2:30 PM | $20 – $25/hour
• PM Shift: 2:30 PM – 11:00 PM | $24 – $28/hour

About the Role

We’re hiring Self-Driving Car Operators (Safety Drivers) to support the testing and development of autonomous vehicles in Austin, TX. In this role, you’ll operate and monitor self-driving cars, ensure safety on the road, and provide valuable feedback to engineering teams.

This is a great opportunity to work with cutting-edge autonomous driving technology that’s shaping the future of mobility — no CDL required.

Key Responsibilities

• Safely operate autonomous vehicles on public roads to collect performance and environmental data.
• Perform daily safety checks and ensure vehicles are ready for operation.
• Monitor vehicle systems in real time and document system behavior.
• Collaborate with engineers, operations teams, and test riders professionally.
• Respond quickly to unexpected events or road hazards.
• Stay focused and maintain high safety standards at all times.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of U.S. driving experience with a valid driver’s license.
• Clean driving record (no DUIs or drug/alcohol offenses in the past 5 years).
• Ability to drive safely under all road and weather conditions.
• Familiarity with Austin traffic laws and routes.
• Excellent communication skills and attention to detail.
• Professional, reliable, and safety-focused.

Experience in one of the following areas is required:

• Autonomous vehicle operation
• Driving instruction
• Motorsports (ATVs, side‑by‑side, or dirt bikes)
• App driving (e.g. Grab, Uber, Lyft) experience
• IT/technical troubleshooting experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with vehicle or sensor technology.
• Certification in safe or defensive driving.
• Experience collecting and reporting technical data.
• Additional safety or defensive driving training.

Benefits

• Employer-subsidized healthcare coverage.
• Pre-tax commuter benefits.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• Company-paid short- and long-term disability and life insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan.

What to Expect in the Interview

You may be asked about:

• Your professional driving experience in Austin.
• Familiarity with local traffic laws.
• Experience with autonomous vehicles or motorsports.
• Comfort driving in all weather and road conditions.
• Use of data collection or reporting tools.
• Your approach to maintaining safety and focus behind the wheel.

Ready to Drive the Future?

If you’re passionate about autonomous technology, vehicle innovation, and safety, we want to hear from you.