Senior, Software Engineer - Autonomy Core Frameworks
About this role
Engineers who thrive on solving complex platform challenges and establishing robust architectural standards will find a strong fit in this role at Torc Robotics. The core frameworks team builds and advances the foundational infrastructure that underpins the company's autonomous driving stack for automated trucks. The incoming engineer will own the technical direction for core autonomy components, designing scalable architectural patterns for state management, data flow, and inter-component communication while collaborating closely with the Behavior and Perception teams. This role exists to raise engineering standards and ensure platform reliability, performance, and maintainability across the entire autonomous system. Candidates who succeed here bring deep expertise in real-time software architecture and a track record of mentoring technical teams.
What you will do
- Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of core frameworks for state management, abstraction layers, and inter-component communication across the autonomous driving stack.
- Drive the technical direction for real-time C++ architectural components that govern system-wide data flow, error handling, and operational observability.
- Establish scalable architectural patterns and lead technical tradeoff discussions to shape long-term platform design decisions.
- Collaborate directly with Behavior and Perception teams to maintain clean integration boundaries and coherent shared abstractions.
- Lead architecture and code reviews while establishing engineering standards that improve reliability, testability, and maintainability.
- Mentor software engineers through technical coaching, architectural guidance, and day-to-day collaboration.
- Contribute to root cause analysis for complex platform issues to enhance system resilience and performance.
What you need
- Possess a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline with eight or more years of professional software engineering experience, or a Master's degree with six or more years of experience.
- Demonstrate deep experience with C++17 and recent standards for systems-level software design.
- Show comfort in using Python to script and integrate systems together.
- Bring practical experience working across autonomous systems, robotics, distributed systems, or complex embedded environments utilizing middleware with pub-sub communication patterns.
- Have strong experience with testing frameworks, continuous integration, and build systems.
- Demonstrate expertise in managing technical debt, refactoring large codebases, and evolving platforms while preserving stability and performance.
Nice to have
- Experience architecting, maintaining, and using robotics middleware such as ROS 2
- Deep expertise in distributed systems design including consensus algorithms, state synchronization, and event-driven architectures
- Familiarity with safety-critical software development standards like ISO 26262, SOTIF, or ASPICE
- Experience with GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and Bazel-based build systems
- Experience designing observability, logging, and monitoring systems for complex distributed systems
Benefits
- Competitive compensation package including a bonus component and stock options
- 100% paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for full-time employees
- 401K plan with a 6% employer match
- Flexibility in schedule and generous paid vacation available immediately after the start date
- AD+D and Life Insurance
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the salary range for this position?
The hiring pay range for this job opening is $160,800 to $193,000 USD. Compensation is based on a number of factors and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
What additional financial compensation is provided?
Torc's total compensation package includes a corporate bonus component and a stock option plan. Dependent on the position offered, sign-on payments, relocation, and other forms of compensation may also be provided.
What kind of health and retirement benefits are included?
The company offers 100% paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for full-time employees. Additionally, employees receive access to a 401K plan with a 6% employer match, along with AD+D and life insurance.
What is the policy on paid time off and schedule flexibility?
Employees receive flexibility in their schedule and generous paid vacation that is available immediately after the start date.