As the Team Lead, you will guide the strategy, development, and integration of our sensor suite and system software. You’ll mentor a skilled engineering team, oversee sensor selection and testing, and drive the creation of robust, low-latency software pipelines. This role is critical to ensuring our vehicles perceive the world accurately and operate safely.

Sensor Suite management:

• Act as the company’s subject matter expert on autonomous vehicle sensor technologies by providing deep technical expertise and guidance on sensor safety, selection, testing, integration, operation, and application.
• Collaborate with perception, localization, calibration, functional safety and other teams to define and refine sensor requirements based on system needs.
• Conduct in-depth research and analysis to identify and evaluate the most suitable sensors (cameras, LiDARs, radars, etc) for our autonomous vehicle applications - robotaxis and delivery robots.
• Stay abreast of the latest sensor technologies, industry trends and politico-economical risks through market research, attending conferences, events and engaging with industry leaders directly.
• Manage the ongoing R&D process by negotiating the loaning and purchasing contracts, securing samples, organizing and overseeing the testing, evaluation and experimental integration and operation of cutting-edge sensors.
• Build and maintain relationships with sensor manufacturers to ensure effective device sourcing, new development awareness, address bugs and problems, establish robust repair and RMA processes, and obtain timely software and hardware updates.
• Present results and recent findings to upper management and stakeholders on the regular basis

Software Development management:

• Lead, grow and mentor a high-performing team of software engineers responsible for developing custom Linux based systems, device drivers, low-level system software as well as the high-level software pipelines for hardware devices to be used in real-time environment in accordance with the required safety level.
• Set the strategic direction for sensor development within the company. Define, adapt and execute strategic plans, setting priorities and deadlines and ensuring timely delivery of team, projects and company goals.
• Work closely with the embedded electronics and firmware teams from the early stages of the development of our embedded devices to ensure smooth integration to our autonomous driving systems by managing the team’s participation in the pre-production PCBA hardware reviews and initial launches.
• Manage every stage of the various sensors software lifecycle to achieve the highest available quality and robustness of data delivery with the lowest possible latency and time-related variability in the defined safety constraints.
• Establish and maintain effective feedback channels with data consumers (perception, localization, calibration, etc) to ensure clear understanding of evolving data requirements and timely response to the arising challenges.
• Conduct regular activities as the sprint plannings, daily stand-up meetings, retrospectives and demos to track progress, address roadblocks, facilitate effective communication, optimize resource allocation and prioritize tasks team productivity and efficiency. Determine and implement the team's internal processes, communication models, and workflow.
• Being responsible for the team members by conducting regular one-on-one meetings and conducting the performance review with team members to provide mentorship, feedback, and support for their professional development.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive team environment that encourages innovation and continuous improvement.
• Proactively identify the risks and challenges and choose the proper management techniques associated with the sensor software development.

‍

• Master’s or PhD degree in computer science, robotics or engineering or equivalent. Foreign equivalent is accTeam Lead - Sensors and System Software Teamepted.
• 10+ years of experience in software engineering domain, preferably in self-driving cars or other autonomous and robotic systems.
• Minimum 5 years of proven experience as a Team Lead in a fast-paced software development environment within the automotive, space, autonomous vehicle or robotics industry startups.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and mentor a high-performing team. Experience in hiring, firing, promoting and other related H&R processes.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles, agile methodologies, project management and industry up-to-date best practices.
• Knowledge of modern C/C++ and Python programming and ability to read and make the code contributions.
• Deep expertise in related sensor (Camera, LiDAR, Radar, IMU, GNSS, USS, ToF, iToF, FMCW) technology and their applications in autonomous systems, including principles of operation,pros/cons, limitations and calibration techniques. Experience with sensor data acquisition, processing, and analysis.
• Experience with developing drivers and software for lidar, radar, or camera or developing the sensor itself is highly desirable.
• Understanding the electrical engineering fundamentals to be able read schematics and designs of embedded devices as well as the processes of hardware bring-up and debugging.
• Knowledge of the common automotive hardware interfaces like CAN, SPI, I2C, PCIe, Ethernet.
• Familiarity with the process of building the custom Linux based systems (DTS,DTC,rootfs build systems) for the embedded devices, including the kernel modules development is a strong plus.
• Familiarity with ROS or similar frameworks and related (pub/sub) communication protocols.
• Understanding of the Linux networking (IP, UDP/TCP, ASIO) and debugging network-related issues.
• Understanding of the real-time embedded systems (including the microcontroller-based), including working in an asynchronous environment with multiple real-time, low-latency, safety-critical systems processes, threads, timers, watchdogs and interrupts.
• Strong problem-solving, debugging and analytical skills with the ability to think strategically and creatively.

‍