Staff Systems Engineer Autonomy, Autonomy Camera and High Compute Platform

Role Summary

In this role you will define, mature, and own requirements for the high compute platform and its camera subsystem. These systems are key elements to Rivian’s autonomy stack, providing the essential platform functions to autonomy services such as the perception and planning systems.

Responsibilities

• Define, mature, and own requirements for:

  • Device-side camera software such as for imager and serializer configuration
  • Compute-side camera software such as for deserializer configuration, integrated ISP configuration, camera drivers, and camera manager software
  • Sourced camera components with integrated processing and associated in-cabin sensing components (e.g., camera, illuminator, proximity sensing).
  • Platform lifecycle and observable behavior (boot, shutdown, software update/flash, fault and degraded-mode behavior)
  • Platform-level resource budgets, data integrity, and the platform guarantees provided to hosted autonomy services

• Author and maintain specifications that serve as the authoritative source of truth for the software infrastructure implementation team

• Own supplier-facing software requirements for sourced camera components, including specification flow-down and review of supplier verification evidence

• Define acceptance criteria and verification strategies

• Author test specifications that can be executed at the device, bench, or HIL level to verify and validate camera pipeline and platform lifecycle behavior

• Work with the team to build automated verification capabilities for platform-level requirements

• Serve as the primary technical interface between the systems engineering team and the software infrastructure team for camera and high compute platform topics

• Collaborate with the hardware engineering team on compute architecture, resource allocation, and platform topology decisions

• Support the diagnostics and sensor integration systems engineers by providing platform-level context and ensuring the camera pipeline meets its domain-specific needs

• Participate in design reviews for platform software implementations, providing architectural feedback grounded in the specifications you own

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a related field
• 10+ years of experience in embedded systems, automotive software platforms, or autonomous vehicle compute systems
• Experience with camera pipeline development
• Deep experience with Linux based systems
• Familiarity with functional safety development processes (ISO 26262)
• Experience writing system or software architecture documents, requirements specifications, and interface definitions
• Proficiency in Python (for tooling, automation, data analysis)
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with implementation teams, translating architecture into actionable specifications
• Experience with requirements management tools (DOORS, Polarion, Jama, or similar)
• Prior work at an OEM, Tier 1, or autonomy technology company on production vehicle compute platform

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $206,500-$258,100 for San Francisco Bay Area based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.   We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.