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.
We are looking for a Senior Staff Software Engineer to join our Performance Engineering and Optimization (PeO) team. As a technical leader in this high-impact group, you will spearhead efforts to push the boundaries of our system's efficiency, ensuring our technology remains at the forefront of the industry. This is a rare opportunity to own the performance roadmap for a commercialized product, tackling complex, large-scale engineering challenges that directly influence the reliability and speed of our fielded environment.
In this role you will
- Lead cross-functional performance initiatives to identify and resolve systemic bottlenecks, significantly improving end-to-end latency and system throughput.
- Architect and implement advanced system instrumentation frameworks to provide deep visibility into modern OS-level performance metrics.
- Drive the technical strategy for C/C++ optimization, mentoring junior engineers and establishing best practices for high-performance systems-level programming.
- Collaborate with product and infrastructure teams to ensure that performance remains a core pillar throughout the product lifecycle, from initial design to field deployment.
- Analyze and interpret complex telemetry data from fielded environments to proactively address performance regressions and optimize resource utilization.
Required qualifications
- 8–10+ years of professional experience in systems-level programming
- Lead C/C++ optimization and system instrumentation to improve latency and throughput.
- Experience delivering and supporting a commercialized product in a fielded environment.
- Hands-on expertise with modern OS-level instrumentation toolkits
Desirable qualifications
- Proven track record of technical leadership for large-scale performance engineering projects within the autonomous vehicle or robotics industry.
- Deep familiarity with Linux kernel internals, memory management, and hardware-software co-design principles.
- Experience with specialized profiling tools (e.g., eBPF, perf, or Ftrace) and automated performance regression testing suites.
- Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field with a focus on systems performance.
The base salary range for this position is $189,000.00-$303,000.00 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.
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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.
Skills Required
- BS/MS or PhD in Computer Science or a related field
- Excellent C++ or C programming in a UNIX/POSIX environment
- Minimum 8 years of professional experience
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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
