Senior Staff Software Systems Engineer - Advanced Autonomy Systems Engineering Lead

latitude

Pittsburgh, PA, Palo Alto, CA, Detroit, MI · Pittsburgh

Posted Jun 1, 2026

Full-time
Systems Engineering, Integration & Test (SEIT)

Job description

Latitude AI (lat.ai) is building the future of Ford’s autonomy roadmap to make travel safer, less stressful, and more enjoyable for everyone. Bringing this vision to scale, our fully in-house developed hands-free ADAS platform will debut on Ford’s all-new Universal Electric Vehicle in 2027.

When you join the Latitude team, you’ll work alongside leading experts across machine learning and robotics, cloud platforms, mapping, sensors and compute systems, test operations, systems and safety engineering – all dedicated to redefining the relationship between people and their vehicles for millions of customers.

As a Ford Motor Company subsidiary, we operate independently to develop automated driving technology at the speed of a technology startup. Latitude is headquartered in Pittsburgh with engineering centers in Dearborn, Mich., and Palo Alto, Calif.

Meet the team:

Latitude’s Autonomy Systems Engineering Team spearheads the end-to-end development of autonomous vehicle systems. The team defines the ODD, establishes vehicle and sub-system requirements, and leads sensor selection analysis. By partnering with software development and Functional Safety teams, they architect robust systems that prioritize safety and performance. Additionally, they decompose complex autonomy functions for verification and implement large-scale metrics to ensure rigorous requirement compliance.

What you’ll do:

For the next generation of L3/L2+ autonomy systems at Latitude AI, you will lead the following work as an individual contributor working across the organization:

The definition of the ODD: Negotiate product-level wants and define vehicle-level behavioral requirements, working closely with Latitude’s Product team and executive management
The development of the HW/SW architecture: Collaborate with Latitude’s hardware and software leads
High-level systems engineering: Define requirements, metrics, and verification methods in partnership with systems engineering teams and software leads
Functional safety: Establish the high-level functional safety approach and HW/SW safety architecture, working closely with the Functional Safety team
Fail-safe and fail-functional architectures: Design the frameworks necessary for functional safety and SOTIF

Additional Responsibilities:

Collaborate across functions: Work with all autonomy functions (Systems Engineering) and SW owners on topics ranging from mapping to perception to vehicle controls
System evaluation: Evaluate the in-car system from the customer’s perspective and provide critical, regular feedback to the development teams

What you'll need to succeed:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics or a related field and 10+ years of relevant experience, Master's degree and 8+ years of relevant experience, or PhD and 5+ years of relevant experience
At least 6+ years of experience working in either automotive or robotics engineering, or a related field
Experience working on autonomy functions such as mapping, sensing, localization, detection, routing, motion planning, motion control, etc.
Experience writing requirements and developing metrics
Experience with the analysis and testing of complex systems through data-driven approaches
Experience with / knowledge of autonomy and safety related SW algorithms
Experience with Python, C++, or other programming skills, as well as git experience
Experience developing safety architectures to meet ISO 26262 or similar standards

Nice to have:

Doctorate Degree with a focus in robotics
Experience with autonomous vehicle development
Experience with autonomous vehicle testing
Experience developing robotics SW
Experience developing FuSa SW

What we offer you:

Competitive compensation packages
High-quality individual and family medical, dental, and vision insurance
Health savings account with available employer match
Employer-matched 401(k) retirement plan with immediate vesting
Employer-paid group term life insurance and the option to elect voluntary life insurance
Paid parental leave
Paid medical leave
Unlimited vacation
15 paid holidays
Daily lunches, snacks, and beverages available in all office locations
Pre-tax spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
Pre-tax commuter benefits
Monthly wellness stipend
Adoption/Surrogacy support program
Backup child and elder care program
Professional development reimbursement
Employee assistance program
Discounted programs that include legal services, identity theft protection, pet insurance, and more
Company and team bonding outlets: employee resource groups, quarterly team activity stipend, and wellness initiatives

Learn more about Latitude’s team, mission and career opportunities at lat.ai!

The expected base salary range for this full-time position in California is $253,120 - $379,680 USD. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Latitude employees are also eligible to participate in Latitude’s annual bonus programs, equity compensation, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.

Candidates for positions with Latitude AI must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is available for this position.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status.

Job description

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