Backend Tech Lead, Aurora
Fleet Intelligence
$212-340k
The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits
Office located in Mountain View, CA
Self-driving technology company
Be an early applicant
Self-driving technology company
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
$212-340k
The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits
Office located in Mountain View, CA
1001+ employees
Company mission
To deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly.
Role
Who you are
- BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience
- 12+ years of experience building and operating large-scale backend or distributed systems
- Deep expertise in microservices architecture, distributed systems, high-throughput data pipelines, API frameworks (gRPC/REST), and cloud-native engineering
- Significant experience driving solutions through ambiguity, influencing multi-team decisions, and delivering platforms with broad organizational impact
- Proficiency with Golang, cloud infrastructure, and operational tooling (e.g., AWS, Kubernetes, CI/CD, observability stacks)
- Demonstrated experience mentoring senior engineers and shaping engineering culture
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder influence skills
Desirable
- Experience leading multi-team architectural initiatives and defining long-term technical roadmaps
- Knowledge of autonomous vehicles, robotics, fleet systems, or large-scale real-time data processing
- Experience with integrating third-party APIs, external data sources, or partner ecosystems
What the job involves
- The Fleet Intelligence team sits at the center of Aurora’s mission to deploy safe, commercial-scale autonomous driving. We build the platforms that unify data across vehicles, cloud systems, and operators—turning real-world signals into the insights and capabilities that power autonomy, optimize fleet operations, and accelerate scale
- As a Senior Staff Software Engineer, you will set the architectural vision for some of Aurora’s most mission-critical systems. You will lead multi-team initiatives, define long-term technical strategies, and architect platforms that unlock the next generation of autonomous fleet capabilities
- Your work will shape not just individual systems but the broader engineering ecosystem across Aurora
- Own the vision, architecture, and technical strategy for foundational backend systems that support real-time fleet operations, autonomy feedback loops, and Aurora’s growing partner ecosystem
- Lead and drive cross-organizational technical initiatives, establishing architectural standards and building platforms that scale efficiently as our commercial deployment accelerates
- Architect high-throughput services, event-driven systems, and large-scale data ingestion and processing pipelines that underpin autonomy insights, operational intelligence, and system-wide observability
- Influence technical planning and strategic direction by partnering with engineering leadership, Product, Autonomy, Cloud Infrastructure, and Operations
- Serve as a technical force multiplier: mentoring senior engineers, elevating engineering rigor, and cultivating a culture of excellence, clarity, and impact
Our take
In spite of emerging from stealth mode in 2018, Aurora is making strong waves in the flurry of startups racing to develop fully autonomous vehicles. Aurora’s hardware and software developments have historically focused on self-driving trucks, which it expects to launch commercially in 2024.
It recently named Ossa Fisher as its new President, who will focus on scaling operations ahead of this commercial launch. Passenger cars and associated services are expected to roll out following this launch. However, the self-driving industry is riddled with unmet deadlines, cash shortfalls, and tough technological challenges.
To remain competitive with deep-pocket industry giants like Tesla and Google’s Waymo, the company continues to land substantial backing from the likes of Sequoia Capital, accelerating its post-IPO growth. The pedigree of its founders may well continue to win over investor confidence. It boasts leading prior positions in the self-driving divisions of Tesla, Uber, and Google.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
8% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 3 rounds)
Dec 2020
$400m
GROWTH EQUITY VC
Feb 2019
$600m
SERIES B
Total funding: $1.1bn
Company benefits
- Choice of regional HMO options, PPO options, and high deductible plans, with the option to contribute to a health savings account (HSA). If you choose a high deductible health plan, Aurora will make employer contributions to your HSA
- Comprehensive dental coverage and access to a nationwide provider network
- Coverage for vision exams, glasses, contacts, discounts for LASIK, and other vision services through a nationwide provider network
- In-office lunches, snacks, and drinks available
- GymPass offers on-demand virtual classes (fitness, yoga, strength, and more), well-being coaching, and budget management. Discount on nationwide gym memberships
- Headspace offers access to guided sessions that focus on everything from stress to relationships, anxiety, and sleep
- SoFi. Refinance your home, student and personal loans
- Fetch offers discounts on pet insurance
- PerkSpot offers discounts on vacations, car rentals, and entertainment
- Access support services to help with your family planning journey including fertility care, adoption, and surrogacy. Reimbursement of $20,000 lifetime benefit
- Save for your future with Aurora’s 401(k) Plan. Pre-tax and Roth contribution options are available
- 24/7 access to online resources and unlimited phone consultations for stress, grief counseling, depression, and relationship conflicts (personal and professional), and limited in-person sessions
- Set aside pre-tax money to pay for qualified transit and commuter benefits
- Cigna travel accident insurance provided for business travel
- LinkedIn Learning is an e-learning resource to support professional development. Aurora Academy is an internal learning and development program designed to up-level our team by teaching skills that are essential to Aurora’s mission
- Modern Health is a mental wellness benefit that includes 14 sessions with a certified coach and 12 sessions with a therapist, if needed. Unlimited access to live provider- lead community circles, digital mediation, and more
- Flexible/reasonable vacation for salaried employees; accrual of 20 vacation days per year for non-exempt employees, 11 paid company holidays per year, and reasonable sick time to stay home, rest, and get better
- Network of employee-led groups that represent Aurorans, organized by cultural identity or collaborative purpose
- Aurora provides all new parents and caregivers 18 weeks of coordinated pay and time off for the birth or placement of a child. Up to 4 weeks of paid medical leave for your own personal illness or injury, or to care for a sick family member
- Set aside pre-tax money to pay for healthcare and dependent daycare expenses using FSA plans
- Company-paid premiums for life insurance (2x salary up to $500,000). Voluntary life & AD&D coverage for you and your dependents is available. Short-term disability benefits are 60% weekly benefit up to a max of $2,500 after a short waiting period. Long-term disability benefits are 60% of monthly salary to $10,000 after a waiting period. Option to enroll in voluntary life/AD&D insurance
- 24/7 access to Unum’s worldwide emergency travel assistance services for personal travel
Company HQ
Strip District, Pittsburgh, PA
Leadership
Chris Urmson
(Co-Founder & CEO)They have a PhD in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon, and worked as a robotics research scientist at SAIC. They were CTO of Self-Driving Cars at Google.
Drew Bagnell
(Chief Scientist)They hold a Robotics PhD from Carnegie Mellon, where they are also an Associate Professor. They were Autonomy Architect and Perception Lead at Uber Advanced Technology Center. Held the position of CTO at Aurora for over 3 years.
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