Who we are
Aurora’s mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly.
The Aurora Driver will create a new era in mobility and logistics, one that will bring a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future to everyone.
At Aurora, you will tackle massively complex problems alongside other passionate, intelligent individuals, growing as an expert while expanding your knowledge. For the latest news from Aurora, visit aurora.tech or follow us on LinkedIn.
Aurora hires talented people with diverse backgrounds who are ready to help build a transportation ecosystem that will make our roads safer, get crucial goods where they need to go, and make mobility more efficient and accessible for all. Aurora is seeking a Staff Mechanical Design Engineer for the Compute Product Engineering team within the HPE (Hardware Product Engineering) group.
The HPE Mechanical Design team is responsible for the development of all custom hardware modules in the Aurora Driver Kit (ADK) including Compute modules, Sensor Pods, and Lidar. The team works cross-functionally with EE, layout, CAE, Reliability, EMC, NPI, Operations, and other R&D teams to deliver the robust, scalable electro-mechanical solutions that power the Aurora Driver. Our team starts development at the earliest stages of product scoping and technology exploration and carries products through mass production at scale with our manufacturing partners.
Role Overview
In this role, you will lead the development of our next-generation Aurora Driver Module, which consists of the integration of our Primary Computer and Electronic Control Units for our autonomous vehicle platform known as the Aurora Driver. This role owns mechanical architecture from concept through production, driving robust, manufacturable designs for compute hardware deployed in safety-critical environments. In addition, you will support and sustain products driving autonomously on roads today. This is a high-impact, cross-functional role at the intersection of mechanical design, electronics packaging, and vehicle integration, with responsibility for setting technical direction and mentoring engineers.
In this role you will
- Lead mechanical design and architecture of ECU systems, including enclosures, thermal management, structural design, and packaging
- Own full lifecycle development: concept → prototype → validation → production release
- Define system-level requirements and translate into detailed mechanical designs and specifications
- Design for high-performance compute systems including:
- Thermal solutions (passive/active cooling, application of TIMs, design of heat sinks)
- EMI/EMC shielding and grounding strategies
- Shock/vibration durability for automotive environments
- Optimize packaging for space, weight, thermal constraints, and serviceability
- Prototyping & Validation
- Drive rapid prototyping, bring-up, and iterative validation of ECU hardware
- Partner with Reliability to develop and execute validation plans (DV/PV)
- Lead root cause analysis and design improvements based on test data
- Manufacturing & Production
- Partner with manufacturing and suppliers for DFM/DFA optimization
- Own transition from prototype to production-grade designs
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Work closely with electrical, firmware, software, and vehicle integration teams
- Drive system-level tradeoffs across multiple domains for critical decision making
- Provide technical leadership, design reviews, and mentorship to junior engineers
Required Qualifications
- BS / MS in Mechanical Engineering (or similar) and 8+ years of industry experience in Mechanical Design
- Proficient in CAD design & 2D drawing creation using GD&T, Catia 3DX preferred
- Prior experience with Contractor Manufacturers in high volume settings, including DFM/DFA, build support, and ECO processes.
- Experience designing for harsh environments including shock/vibration and temperature cycling with long term durability
- Experience mitigating EMI/EMC through specifications for connector selection, board-level shielding, and wiring harnesses.
- Ability to apply a deep understanding of both structural and thermal engineering principles to assess designs and validate simulation outcomes
- Proficiency in generating 2D tolerance analysis, including the application of Root Sum Squares (RSS) and Monte Carlo when appropriate
- Knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes common to electromechanical products
- Experience identifying critical failure modes and reaction plans to mitigate failures
- Experience in troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of product and fleet issues
- Experience working in multidisciplinary environments (mechanical + electrical + software)
- Strong presentation and documentation skills for participating in critical design decisions
- Willingness to travel within the US 1-2 times a year and internationally 1-2 times a year
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience with automotive ECUs or high-performance compute systems and integration into vehicles
- Experience with high power, high thermal density, and high speed electronics (for example, server / networking design, avionics design, etc) and deep understanding of their integration challenges
- Past experience with FEA & CFD, specifically for integrated electronics (Ansys + Icepak preferred)
- Experience designing mechanical control outlines (MCO) of PCB assemblies
- Experience with designing to Automotive standards, like ISO 16750 and similar
- Ability to lead DFMEA creation and execution with a clear understanding of failure modes and mechanisms for electro-mechanical products in a safety critical environment
- Experience with supplier management, PPAP, and production ramping
- Background in autonomous vehicles, robotics, and/or automotive vehicle design
- Proven experience with manufacturing processes, including, but not limited to, High Pressure Die Casting, CNC Milling, Stampings, and Press Brake Bending.
The base salary range for this position is $181,000 - $262,000 per year. Aurora’s pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, the successful candidate’s starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, relevant education or training, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.
#Mid-Senior
Working at Aurora
At Aurora, we bring together extraordinarily talented and experienced people united by the strength of our values. We operate with integrity, set outrageous goals, and build a culture where we win together — all without any jerks.
We believe in-person work increases collaboration, empathy and our ability to lead effectively. As a result, we operate in a hybrid work environment where Aurorans are in office at least 3 days per week.
Our Careers page provides insight into what it is like to work at Aurora, and you can find all the latest updates in our Newsroom.
Our commitment to safety
At the core of everything we do is our commitment to safety. Building best-in-class self-driving technology will take time, and we believe that each employee at Aurora has a role in contributing to safety, every step of the way. Aurora expects commitment to our safety policies from every employee, and seeks candidates who take an active responsibility, can contribute to building an atmosphere of trust, and invest in the organization’s long-term success by prioritizing working safely, no matter what.
Our commitment to inclusion
Aurora considers candidates without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy status, parent or caregiver status, ancestry, political affiliation, veteran and/or military status, physical or mental disability, or any other status protected by federal or state law. Aurora considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected].
For California applicants, information collected and processed as part of your application and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Aurora’s California Employment Privacy Policy.
Aurora Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Aurora and has not been reviewed or approved by Aurora.
-
Healthcare Strength — A broad set of medical plan options with dental and vision, plus company‑paid life and disability, signals strong healthcare support. Mental wellness access, including coaching and therapy sessions, further strengthens the offering.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Flexible vacation for salaried employees, 12 paid holidays, and reasonable sick time indicate generous time‑off provisions. Some roles also accrue substantial vacation days annually.
-
Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave and family‑forming reimbursement demonstrate meaningful support for growing families. Coverage for adoption, surrogacy, egg freezing, and genetic testing extends support beyond standard plans.
Aurora Insights
What We Do
Founded in 2017 by experts in the self-driving industry, Aurora is on a mission to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly. To move both people and goods, the company is building the Aurora Driver, a platform that brings together software, hardware and data services to autonomously operate passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, and heavy-duty trucks. Aurora is backed by Sequoia Capital, Baillie Gifford, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, among others, and is partnered with industry leaders including Toyota, Uber, Volvo, and PACCAR. Aurora tests its vehicles in the Bay Area, Pittsburgh, and Dallas. The company has offices in those areas as well as in Bozeman, MT; Seattle, WA; Louisville, CO; and Wixom, MI. To learn more, visit aurora.tech. Aurora is backed by Amazon and Sequoia, among others, and has partnerships with leading transportation companies including PACCAR, Uber, FCA, and Hyundai Group. It tests its vehicles in the Bay Area, Pittsburgh, and Dallas and has offices in those cities as well as in Bozeman, Seattle, Denver, and Detroit. Aurora hires people who want to build the future of transportation. Join us!
