Software Engineer, AV Data Collection
The Software Engineer on the AV Data Recording team develops embedded vehicle software to collect and manage high-quality real-world driving data for autonomous vehicle AI training. This role involves building and maintaining data capture, validation, privacy enforcement, and delivery systems on automotive edge platforms, collaborating with cross-functional teams to support autonomous driving development at fleet scale. It is an early-career position focused on embedded systems, real-time operating systems, and production engineering practices in a hybrid work environment based in Sunnyvale, CA.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Engineering.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
About the Role
Confidential Client is hiring an early-career Software Engineer to join an AV Data Recording team responsible for embedded vehicle software that captures, validates, and moves high-value sensor and vehicle data into AI development pipelines. This role focuses on fleet-scale data collection for autonomous driving: preserving privacy, ensuring data quality, and reliably delivering training, evaluation, and debugging datasets.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Develop embedded vehicle software that captures and packages sensor and vehicle data for AI model development.
- Build components to capture, filter, validate, and offload data from vehicle edge platforms.
- Improve data quality, privacy enforcement, observability, reliability, and performance in data collection workflows.
- Debug complex issues across Linux- and QNX-based vehicle software, real-time data recording pipelines, and backend integrations.
- Collaborate with AI, backend, embedded platform, and systems teams to ensure collected data meets development needs.
- Deliver production-ready software via clear requirements, code reviews, automated tests, CI, and controlled rollouts.
- Learn and apply production engineering practices for performance testing, regression prevention, and operational support.
Basic Qualifications
- Recently completed, or currently pursuing, a Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, AI/ML, or a related technical field. (Completed degrees must be within the past nine months; degree must be finished before start date.)
- Strong fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, operating systems, computer architecture, or distributed systems.
- Solid coding ability in C++, Python, or both (demonstrated in coursework, internships, research, or projects).
- Experience developing in a Linux environment (class projects, labs, internships, research, or personal projects).
- Ability to debug complex software problems and communicate technical findings clearly in a team setting.
- Interest in autonomous vehicles, embedded systems, real-time OS, data platforms, and AI/ML pipelines.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with embedded Linux, QNX, automotive systems, robotics platforms, or edge compute devices.
- Exposure to C++ systems programming, IPC, messaging, networking, serialization, or data pipelines.
- Experience building performance-sensitive, real-time, or resource-constrained software.
- Familiarity with logging, telemetry, observability, and data recording systems.
- Experience with build/test tooling such as Bazel, CMake, GitHub Actions, or similar.
- Exposure to SQL, cloud storage, backend services, or data processing workflows.
- Prior internships, research, or projects in autonomous driving, robotics, embedded systems, distributed systems, or AI/ML infrastructure.
Location & Work Type
- Location: Sunnyvale, CA
- Work model: Hybrid — expected to report to a specific office at least 3 days per week.
- Relocation: This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary range (good-faith estimate for this role in California): $119,250 — $153,900 per year. Actual offer will vary based on experience and other relevant factors.
- Bonus potential: Incentive pay based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.
- Benefits: Comprehensive total rewards including health, retirement, paid time off, and career development resources. (Details provided by the hiring organization during the process.)
Note: Salary is shown to comply with applicable pay-transparency requirements for the job location.
Why Join
- Work on real-world systems that turn driving data into AI training material used to advance autonomous vehicle capabilities.
- Pair with experienced engineers and learn production engineering practices for safety-critical and fleet-scale systems.
- Join a diverse engineering organization focused on systems engineering, embedded platforms, and AI data pipelines.
Interview & Accommodation Info
Confidential Client (via Careertakes) is committed to inclusive hiring. Applicants may be required to complete role-related assessments or pre-employment screening where applicable. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact the hiring team; accommodations will be provided in accordance with federal, state, and local law.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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