Senior Software Engineer, Collision Avoidance Testing

About the role

Join our engineering group to build and refine the validation frameworks for autonomous driving systems. You will focus on verifying safety performance through rigorous collision avoidance testing as we transition our technology toward robotaxi and consumer vehicle applications. In this capacity, you will own the development of test scenarios that rigorously challenge the vehicle's ability to perceive and react to complex traffic situations. The role requires you to ensure that our testing methodologies are robust, repeatable, and aligned with the highest standards of safety validation. You will be responsible for creating the tools that enable our engineers to understand and mitigate risks before software reaches the road. This position is critical to the success of Nuro's pivot toward licensing automated driving software for third-party robotaxis and consumer vehicles. Your work will directly influence the reliability of the systems that power these future applications.

Key facts

What you'll do

Design and implement simulation and track-based test scenarios to evaluate vehicle safety. You will construct scenarios that replicate complex traffic interactions and edge cases, ensuring comprehensive coverage of potential collision situations. These scenarios will be used to validate the vehicle's perception and planning responses under controlled and real-world conditions.

Develop automated pipelines to analyze performance data from collision avoidance maneuvers. You will build data processing workflows that ingest large volumes of test runs, extract relevant metrics, and highlight deviations from expected behavior. This automation will enable rapid assessment of system performance and support data-driven improvements.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define safety metrics and validation standards for autonomous software. You will work alongside engineers, safety experts, and product teams to establish clear, measurable criteria that reflect both regulatory expectations and real-world driving risks. These standards will guide test design and success criteria.

Build tools that identify edge cases in perception and planning systems. You will develop detection mechanisms that surface unusual or potentially hazardous scenarios, helping the team refine algorithms and increase system robustness. These tools will feed directly into the validation workflow.

Integrate test results into a cohesive framework that supports rapid iteration and debugging. You will create structures that consolidate data from multiple sources, making it easier to trace issues, compare runs, and verify fixes. This integration reduces friction in the development cycle.

Create detailed documentation for test procedures to ensure clarity and reproducibility. You will maintain records of scenario definitions, test configurations, and analysis methodologies so that tests can be reliably repeated and audited.

Partner with hardware engineers to align test parameters with real-world sensor capabilities. You will coordinate with the hardware team to ensure that simulated conditions reflect the specifications and limitations of deployed sensors, keeping tests realistic and actionable.

Optimize existing testing workflows to improve efficiency and reduce turnaround time. You will identify bottlenecks in test execution and analysis, then implement improvements that accelerate validation without compromising rigor.

Analyze large datasets to uncover trends that inform long-term safety improvements. You will mine test data for patterns that indicate systemic risks or opportunities for enhancement, translating findings into concrete changes.

Support the creation of regression suites that prevent the reintroduction of critical bugs. You will contribute to a growing library of tests that catch regressions early, preserving safety guarantees across software updates.

Translate high-level safety requirements into concrete, executable test cases. You will interpret abstract goals into specific scenarios and metrics that can be validated in simulation and on track.

Contribute to the evolution of Nuro's validation strategy as the product scope expands. As new vehicle platforms and operational designs emerge, you will help adapt testing approaches to remain comprehensive and effective.

Requirements

Bachelor degree or higher in Computer Science, Robotics, Engineering, or a related field.

Minimum 5 years of professional experience in software development or autonomous systems testing.

Proficiency in C++ and Python for production-level code. You will write and maintain performance-critical components in these languages, ensuring reliability and clarity.

Experience with simulation environments and data analysis for robotics or automotive safety. You should be comfortable working with tools and datasets common to autonomous vehicle validation.

Strong understanding of software development lifecycle practices and version control. You will follow established workflows to manage changes, code reviews, and continuous integration.

Ability to work independently while coordinating effectively with distributed teams. You will take ownership of your tasks while communicating clearly across roles and locations.

Demonstrated skill in writing clean, maintainable, and well-documented code. Your work should be easy for others to understand, extend, and audit.

Legal authorization to work in the United States is required.

Nice to have

Background in vehicle dynamics or control theory.

Experience with ROS or similar robotics middleware.

Familiarity with safety standards like ISO 26262 or SOTIF.

Skills & tools

C++

Python

Simulation software

Data analysis frameworks

Autonomous driving validation

Practical notes

Nuro is currently pivoting its business model to focus on licensing automated driving software for third-party robotaxis and consumer vehicles. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.