Senior Software Engineer - New AI Initiatives

About the role

Torc Robotics is seeking a highly skilled Senior Software Engineer to join our New AI Initiatives team. In this role, you will be responsible for developing and implementing innovative artificial intelligence solutions that advance the capabilities of autonomous vehicles. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including data scientists, hardware engineers, and software developers, to design, build, and deploy AI systems that support our automated trucking operations. Your expertise will help shape the future of autonomous vehicle technology by creating scalable, reliable, and efficient AI models and tools. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge projects in a fast-paced environment dedicated to innovation and technological advancement.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Contribute significantly to the development and enhancement of AI development tools used within Torc Robotics to streamline the creation, testing, and deployment of AI models.
• Independently design, develop, and optimize data science models or algorithms, ensuring they meet project requirements and adhere to best practices in software engineering.
• Follow established software development procedures, including recommending new code development or reusing existing code, maintaining version control, and documenting all work thoroughly for future reference and reproducibility.
• Collaborate closely with Data Ops teams to define and implement processes for data ingestion, preparation, and governance, ensuring the datasets used for analytics and machine learning are accurate, well-curated, and compliant with relevant standards.
• Lead projects from conception through deployment, providing technical guidance and mentorship to junior team members, fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment.
• Develop and deliver insights through data visualization, making complex data accessible and understandable to stakeholders across the organization.
• Establish and maintain standards, guidelines, and best practices for deploying analytics and machine learning models, including monitoring, validation, and updating processes.
• Engage with cross-disciplinary teams to integrate AI solutions seamlessly into existing systems and workflows, ensuring operational efficiency and reliability.
• Participate in code reviews, testing, and validation activities to ensure high-quality deliverables that meet project specifications and industry standards.
• Stay current with emerging AI and machine learning technologies, evaluating their potential application within the company and recommending adoption where appropriate.
• Communicate technical concepts effectively to non-technical stakeholders, translating complex models and insights into actionable information.
• Support the deployment and scaling of AI models in production environments, ensuring robustness, security, and compliance with company policies.
• Contribute to documentation efforts, including technical specifications, user guides, and training materials to support ongoing maintenance and knowledge sharing.
• Work within a team that values innovation, continuous learning, and a proactive approach to problem-solving, contributing ideas for new projects and improvements.
• Maintain awareness of project timelines and deliverables, managing priorities effectively to meet deadlines without compromising quality.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline, with at least 4 years of relevant experience; or a Master's Degree in one of these fields with at least 2 years of relevant experience.
• Proven experience in developing, deploying, and maintaining AI or machine learning models in a production environment.
• Strong programming skills, particularly in Python, C++, or similar languages, with a solid understanding of software engineering principles.
• Demonstrated ability to independently create data science models or algorithms, evaluate their effectiveness, and optimize performance.
• Familiarity with data ingestion, preparation, and governance processes, ensuring data quality and compliance.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of conveying complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience working on projects that may take several months to reach production, demonstrating patience and perseverance.
• Self-motivated with a proactive attitude toward exploring new topics, technologies, and methodologies to improve AI capabilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment, providing mentorship and sharing knowledge to foster growth.
• Knowledge of version control systems such as Git, and experience with documentation standards.
• Understanding of deployment pipelines, monitoring, and model validation techniques.

Nice to have

• Experience with machine learning frameworks and tools such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar.
• Familiarity with autonomous vehicle systems, hardware integration, or robotics.
• Knowledge of ITAR regulations and compliance requirements related to defense or automotive applications.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Background in software testing, validation, and quality assurance processes for AI systems.

Skills & tools

• Programming languages: Python, C++, or similar.
• Machine learning libraries and frameworks: TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, etc.
• Data management and analytics tools, including SQL, Pandas, or equivalent.
• Version control systems like Git.
• Familiarity with containerization tools such as Docker or Kubernetes is a plus.
• Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines for deploying AI models.

Practical notes

• This position is open to candidates who require visa sponsorship.
• Torc Robotics offers a competitive compensation package, including bonuses and stock options.
• Full-time employees receive 100% coverage for medical, dental, and vision premiums.
• A 401K plan with a 6% employer match is available to eligible employees.
• Flexible scheduling options and immediate paid vacation benefits are provided upon starting.
• Additional benefits include AD+D and Life Insurance coverage.
• The role is on-site at our office location, and the position is classified as on-site only.
• Candidates must be willing to work at the specified office location; this is not a remote or hybrid role.
• We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of background or experience.
• Candidates should be prepared to participate in an interview process that may include technical assessments and team interviews.
• Torc Robotics values innovation, teamwork, and integrity, and seeks individuals eager to contribute to groundbreaking projects in autonomous vehicle technology.

About the company

Torc Robotics writes the software that lets heavy trucks drive themselves on public highways. The company began in Blacksburg, Virginia, in 2005 with students from Virginia Tech and later became part of Daimler Truck. Engineering and test work now run in the United States, Canada, and Germany, with an early commercial focus on Freightliner Cascadia trucks used in U.S. freight.