Senior/Staff Controls Engineer, Core Development
Nuro is hiring a Senior/Staff Controls Engineer, Core Development in Mountain View, United States. It pays $194k-$352k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Level.
AI in this role
Design and deploy production control software and explore machine learning for Level 4 autonomous driving platforms.
Who We Are
Nuro believes self-driving vehicles are the most immediate and profound opportunity for AI to drive positive change in the physical world. Safer streets, more time for what matters, and easier access to the world around us, that’s why we’re building a universal autonomy platform: self-driving for all roads and all rides.
Founded in 2016, Nuro is a physical AI company developing Level 4 autonomous driving technology for a wide range of vehicles, use cases, and markets. Powered by the Nuro Driver™, our universal autonomy platform enables the global mobility ecosystem to deploy autonomy at scale, from robotaxis and logistics fleets to personal vehicles.
With years of real-world deployment experience and a flexible, partner-led business model, Nuro is working toward a future where millions of autonomous vehicles powered by our technology help make everyday life safer, easier, and more connected.
Nuro has raised over $2B in capital from Uber, NVIDIA, Google, Softbank, Fidelity, T. Rowe Price, and other leading investors.
About the Role
Controller is the critical link between Nuro Driver's upstream autonomy stack and physical vehicle platform — translating planned trajectories into safe, precise, real-world motions. As a Senior/Staff Controls Engineer, you'll design and deploy production controls software that powers L4 autonomous driving across an expanding operational design domain, from parking lots to highways, in all weather and road conditions. You'll work alongside world-class engineers across autonomy, hardware, and systems to solve problems that don't have textbook answers and see your work running on real vehicles globally.
About the Work
- Develop robust, reliable and optimized production-level control software following safety standards (ISO 26262).
- Develop seamless interactions between planner and controller and advanced control strategies for expanded ODD including parking lot maneuvers through highway driving under various weather conditions and road surfaces.
- Integrate controls stack with new vehicle platforms.
- Explore Machine Learning for vehicle dynamics and controls to improve vehicle performance, drivability and reduced time for new vehicle platform bringups.
- Collaborate closely with engineers across hardware, base software, upstream autonomy, vehicle testing and system teams.
About You
- MS or Ph.D. (preferred) in mechanical, mechatronics, electrical, aerospace, robotics, or a closely related field.
- 5+ years of industry experience, including 3+ years focusing on developing and deploying L2+ or higher level automated driving controls software at scale.
- Deep knowledge of vehicle dynamics, controls theory, and control strategy development and testing.
- Implementation experience with classical and modern controls methods and/or ML for Controls.
- Strong embedded C (preferred) or C++ programming skills.
- Strong foundation in math (geometry, calculus, probability) and physics (kinematics, dynamics), and analytical skills.
- Comfortable working with GenAI-assisted engineering workflows (e.g. Claude Code, Gemini, Cursor).
- Proven ability to collaborate within and across teams.
- Deep knowledge in vehicle dynamics, controls theories, control strategy development and testing.
- Effective oral and written communication skills.
- Passionate about solving real-world challenging autonomous driving problems.
- Self-starter with strong drive, accountability, and the ability to adapt quickly to new problems
At Nuro, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. For this position, the reasonably expected pay range is between $193,930 and $352,290 for the level at which this job has been scoped. Your base pay will depend on several factors, including your experience, qualifications, education, location, and skills. In the event that you are considered for a different level, a higher or lower pay range would apply. This position is also eligible for an annual performance bonus, equity, and a competitive benefits package.
At Nuro, we celebrate differences and are committed to a diverse workplace that fosters inclusion and psychological safety for all employees. Nuro is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and expressly prohibits any form of workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics. #li-dnp
How we rate this
Senior/Staff Controls Engineer, Core Development at Nuro rates 90 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Builds AI (AI Level 4 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Builds AI. The job is building AI systems.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Open the description and count.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where control systems was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where robotics was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where autonomous vehicles was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where machine learning was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where c was part of your work. What did you do?
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Control Systems, Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles, Machine learning, and C. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
- Lead with what you built, trained or shipped. This role is judged on the AI system itself, not the tools around it.
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