Senior Software Engineer - C++ Development, Vehicle Experience
Zoox
Software Engineering
Foster City, CA, USA
Posted on Mar 4, 2025
Zoox is building the future of transportation. To do that, we’re also building an incredible crew—united by our mission, energized by our values, and driven by our purpose. We are looking for an experienced Senior Software Engineer to join our Vehicle Experience team.
Zoox isn’t an updated car–it’s a whole new form of transportation–designed for AI to drive, and humans to enjoy. In this role, you will design, develop and optimize the software that powers a unique and premium vehicle experience to delight our riders.
The Vehicle Experience team is responsible for the software that manages the ride state and orchestrates the rider experience–audio, lighting, vehicle controls and even the infotainment tablets. The software is authored in C++ and runs on the vehicle under resource constraints. The roadmap features impactful projects like improving the vehicle mission handling as we add new autonomous capabilities, personalizing the vehicle experience to the rider’s preferences and providing situational awareness so the rider feels safe and informed, while consistently working to raise the performance, reliability and quality bar.
In this role, you will:
- Design and implement real-time software systems in C++ to manage autonomous vehicle ride states, passenger interactions and vehicle control interfaces while ensuring optimal performance on embedded Linux systems.
- Architect and integrate mission-critical software components that process data from multiple vehicle sensors and systems, implementing robust error handling and failsafe mechanisms while adhering to automotive-grade safety standards.
- Lead technical design reviews, establish coding standards and mentor junior engineers in best practices for embedded systems development, including memory management, real-time constraints and system optimization.
- Analyze system performance metrics and telemetry data to optimize software efficiency, troubleshoot issues, and make data-driven decisions for improving ride management systems.
- Partner cross-functionally with vehicle software teams, cloud engineers, Product Management, Technical Program Management, UX Design, Quality Assurance and Feature Integration teams to deliver integrated solutions that advance our autonomous vehicle technology.
Qualifications
- MS/BS in Computer Science, Engineering or related field with 7+ years of software development experience
- Strong expertise in modern C++ development on Linux systems
- Experience with modern software development practices (Git, CI/CD, code review), automated testing and validation methodologies and cross-team collaboration in large, complex software projects
- Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze requirements and propose technical solutions, document technical designs and decisions and debug complex system-level issues
- Track record of building user-centric product software, collaborating with Product Management and UX designers and ability to translate UX requirements into technical implementations
Bonus Qualifications
- Knowledge of robotics, automotive or embedded systems software development, including real-time constraints and hardware interfaces
- Hands-on experience with Data Distribution Service (DDS) middleware in production environments, including performance optimization and fault tolerance
- Proficiency with distributed systems in Java, Kotlin or Python
Compensation:
There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. The salary range for this position is $210,000 to $264,000. A sign-on bonus may be offered as part of the compensation package. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level. Leveling, as well as positioning within a level, is determined by a range of factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's relevant years of experience, domain knowledge, and interview performance. The salary range listed in this posting is representative of the range of levels Zoox is considering for this position.
Zoox also offers a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (e.g. sick leave, vacation, bereavement), unpaid time off, Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights, Amazon RSUs, health insurance, long-term care insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, and life insurance.
About Zoox
Zoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility-as-a-service in urban environments. We’re looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team.
Accommodations
If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to accommodations@zoox.com or your assigned recruiter.
A Final Note:
You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.