Level

NVIDIA

Senior Systems Engineer - Autonomous Driving

NVIDIA is hiring a Senior Systems Engineer - Autonomous Driving in Santa Clara, United States. It pays $184k-$288k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on NVIDIA.

Level's read on this job

  • Works on AI ●●●○ is how Level rates this role: the daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
  • The posting mentions AI safety, autonomous driving and systems engineering among its tools and skills.
  • Level classes it as a senior role.
  • NVIDIA has 2,700+ other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

Develop system requirements, safety standards, and test strategies for L3 and L4 autonomous driving products.

ai-safetyautonomous-drivingsystems-engineeringsafety-critical-systemsdata-analysissoftware-architecture

Today, NVIDIA is tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU serves as the intelligence behind computers, robots, and autonomous vehicles that perceive the world. Doing what’s never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world’s best talent. We pioneered a supercharged form of computing loved by the most demanding computer users in the world - scientists, designers, artists, and gamers. It’s not just technology though! It is our people, some of the brightest in the world, and our diverse company culture make NVIDIA one of the most fun, innovative and dynamic places to work in the world! At the center of NVIDIA's culture are our core values like innovation, excellence and determination and team, that guide us to be the best we can be. As an NVIDIAN, you’ll be immersed in a diverse, encouraging environment where everyone is motivated to perform at their highest level. Come join the team and see how we can make a lasting impact on the world.


What you’ll be doing:

  • Develop use cases and system requirements for L3 and L4 autonomous driving products based on customer needs, traffic regulations, certification standards, and industry guidelines.
  • Perform system-level analysis to define performance requirements and allocate performance budgets across subsystems.
  • Formulate test cases and define critical performance metrics to ensure compliance with functional and safety requirements.
  • Define and drive online and offline test strategy and execution at both vehicle and component levels.
  • Partner closely with Data Analytics, Test Engineering, and System Integration & Test teams. Ensure the right evaluators and important metrics are developed. Prove that datasets cover sufficient scenarios and requirements. Target appropriate sampling strategies through Data Collection and Real-World Driving.
  • Establish strong multi-functional relationships with collaborators across engineering, safety, validation, and product teams.
  • Drive innovation in requirements decomposition, traceability, and verification processes.
  • Promote and cultivate a strong systems engineering approach across the organization.

What we need to see:

To succeed in this role, you should have:

  • MS or PhD in Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
  • 8+ years proven experience in safety-critical systems engineering, system analysis, data analysis, and software architecture.
  • Strong software development background with proven coding skills.
  • Hands-on experience in SOTIF analysis (ISO 21448), functional safety (ISO 26262), and multi-functional architectural trade-off analysis.
  • Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to drive alignment across large organizations.
  • Proven understanding of trade-offs between End-to-End deep learning approaches, classical modular perception/planning stacks, and associated validation and test strategies.

Ways to Stand Out from the crowd:

  • Experience contributing to a launched L3/L4 autonomous vehicle program.
  • Experience in AI safety and safety validation for ML-based systems.
  • Hands-on experience with large-scale datasets, data science, and analytics workflows.
  • Strong software engineering experience with proficiency in Python, SQL, and C++.

#AutonomousVehicles

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 184,000 USD - 287,500 USD for Level 4, and 224,000 USD - 356,500 USD for Level 5.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until September 2, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy. 

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

How we rate this

Senior Systems Engineer - Autonomous Driving at NVIDIA rates 65 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Works on AI (AI Level 3 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Works on AI. The daily work is on AI products, without building the model.

  1. ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
  2. ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
  3. ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
  4. ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

AI SafetyAutonomous DrivingSystems EngineeringSafety Critical SystemsData AnalysisSoftware Architecture

Questions you could be asked

  1. How do you think about the risk of an AI system in this kind of role failing silently?
  2. Tell me about a project where autonomous driving was part of your work. What did you do?
  3. Tell me about a project where systems engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
  4. Tell me about a project where safety critical systems was part of your work. What did you do?
  5. Tell me about a project where data analysis was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

  • List these exact terms on your resume: AI Safety, Autonomous Driving, Systems Engineering, Safety Critical Systems, and Data Analysis. 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.
  • Show where AI is part of your daily process, not a one-off project. This role expects it to be a running habit.

Want an expert to read your CV for this job?

Free. Send your CV and the role you want next. We reply by email within 2 to 4 business days.

Get new software engineering jobs (Works on AI ●●●○ or higher) by email

One email a week with the new software engineering jobs (Works on AI ●●●○ or higher), each rated for how much AI is in the work. No recruiter spam, unsubscribe in one click.

Free. One email a week. Unsubscribe in one click.

Similar roles

Software Engineering roles that work on AI, at other companies.

What kind of AI work fits you?

Answer 12 practical questions in about three minutes. Get a simple profile, the work it points to, and live roles to explore next.

Find my next step

More jobs at NVIDIA

Related searches

Same AI level

Jobs by city