Autonomy Engineer
Content + Source + Freshness • 14 Feb 2026 • 95% confidence
Offer value
The role offers a compelling package due to the startup's growth potential, lucrative salary, and the opportunity to work on innovative autonomous technology.
- Salary range: $175,000 - $250,000
- Opportunity to shape industry-leading technologies
- Dynamic work culture in a growing startup environment
Pros
- Salary range of $175,000 - $250,000, reflecting the senior nature of the role
- Early-stage participation in a high-potential startup
- Ability to lead impactful projects in advanced autonomy
Cons
- Potential need for high adaptability to rapidly changing environments
- Long hours typical of startup culture
- May require obtaining security clearance for further project involvement
Who it's for
Senior • On-site/Remote flexible
Good fit
- Senior engineers experienced in autonomy and AI technologies
- Innovators looking to work in a high-impact environment
- Professionals with a strong programming foundation
Not recommended for
- Entry-level candidates without relevant experience
- Individuals preferring a corporate rather than startup environment
- Those not ready for the challenges of rapid innovation
Motivation fit
Key skills
About the job
Autonomy Engineer
Washington D.C.
$175-250k
We're a well-funded, rapidly growing startup in the heart of Washington D.C., backed by significant venture capital, and we're building something truly revolutionary. Our mission is to push the boundaries of what's possible in autonomous technology, creating cutting-edge solutions that will shape industries and impact lives. We're assembling a world-class team of innovators, and we're looking for an exceptional Autonomy Engineer to join us on this journey.
If you thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and are passionate about solving the most complex challenges in robotics and artificial intelligence, this is your chance to make a tangible impact. You'll be a foundational member of our autonomy team, contributing directly to the core intelligence of our next-generation systems.
What You'll Do:
As an Autonomy Engineer, you'll be instrumental in bringing our autonomous vision to life. Your responsibilities will include:
- Collaborating closely with our algorithms and software engineers to research, design, develop, prototype, and implement advanced autonomy algorithms and software.
- Conducting compute benchmarks and runtime analysis to optimize algorithm performance.
- Crafting highly optimized and efficient software in C/C++, focusing on both space and time complexity.
- Developing parallel algorithms and software using CUDA/OpenCL for high-throughput computing.
- Providing insightful algorithmic and code optimization recommendations.
- Seamlessly integrating algorithmic modules into our overarching autonomy software architecture.
- Performing rigorous Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing and development.
- Designing and implementing Hardware Abstraction Layers (HALs) and APIs for various sensors and compute platforms crucial for autonomy algorithm deployment.
What You Bring:
We're seeking a sharp, driven individual with a proven track record in developing robust and performant autonomous systems. You'll have:
- Exceptional C/C++ and Parallel Programming: Demonstrated expertise in writing highly optimized, efficient, and parallelized code using C/C++, CUDA, and OpenCL for high-throughput computing.
- Deep Computer Science & Algorithm Design: A strong foundation in computer science fundamentals, including data structures, algorithms, and the ability to design space and time-efficient solutions.
- Real-Time, Embedded & Distributed Systems Expertise: Proven experience with Unix/Linux systems, embedded Linux, low-latency, real-time software, and familiarity with heterogeneous architectures and distributed computing.
- Robotics & Sensor Integration: Hands-on experience with robotics frameworks (ROS, Gazebo, RVIZ, PCL), sensor integration (HALs, APIs, device drivers), and developing software for communication between multiple devices.
- Autonomous Flight & AI Acceleration: Familiarity with PX4 and/or Ardupilot Flight Controller (FC) Software, coupled with experience in AI acceleration libraries like TensorFlow and TensorRT.
- Modern Software Development Practices: A commitment to clean, well-documented code, coupled with experience in continuous integration, code reviews, and comprehensive testing.
Professional Experience Requirements:
- 2-5 years of experience in developing software in C/C++.
- 2-5 years of experience in developing software in OpenCL / CUDA.
Educational Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field.
- Master's degree preferred.
Join Our Vision!
This is a unique opportunity to join a high-impact startup at an exciting growth stage. You'll be part of a collaborative, brilliant team, working on groundbreaking technology that will define the next generation of autonomous systems. If you're ready to take on significant challenges and contribute to something truly impactful, we want to hear from you!
Please note: Due to the nature of our work, candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship is required.
