Senior Autonomy Engineer

At Ouster, we create cutting-edge sensors and software solutions for engineers, roboticists, and researchers to help make the world safer and more efficient. Our advanced sensor hardware and vision algorithms are integral to a wide range of applications, including autonomous vehicles, drones, and more. If you're passionate about tackling complex challenges and shaping the future of autonomy, we want you on our team

As a Senior Autonomy Engineer on the Ouster SDK (Software Development Kit) team, you'll play a key role in developing systems and features that power autonomous applications, including robotics and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). You'll also contribute to the evolution of the open-source Ouster SDK—an essential toolset for customers to access, process, and visualize LiDAR data, enabling them to bring their robotic systems to life.

This role requires a keen eye for high-performance C++ development and crafting clean, efficient APIs. You'll collaborate closely with internal teams, including Ouster's LiDAR development and perception teams, as well as external stakeholders in the open-source community. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to work directly with key customers to understand their challenges and provide innovative solutions, either by leveraging existing SDK features or creating new ones.

This job is a hybrid onsite in San Francisco headquarters.

Job Responsibilities:

• Develop custom systems for autonomy, robotics and ADAS applications based on Ouster SDK features
• Translate customer requirements into engineering implementation
• Design, implement, and test features in C++ and Python for the open-source Ouster Lidar Sensor SDK
• Develop and maintain clean, high-performance, robust cross-platform code
• Prototype, design, and implement in-house tools to support internal engineering teams from embedded software to optics and manufacturing in building lidar sensors
• Enhance internal perception and mapping capabilities
• Document, plan, and track your work
• Demonstrate new products to customers and stakeholders

Job Requirements:

• 4+ years of experience in high-performance C++ and Python
• 4+ years of experience developing autonomy systems with localization, obstacle avoidance and path planning algorithms
• Proven track record of defining, developing and deploying fully autonomous robotic systems.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex systems, particularly in robotics, autonomous driving, and multi-sensor environments.
• Ability to integrate and process data from multiple sensors (LiDAR, cameras, IMUs) to achieve robust system performance
• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills
• Significant Linux experience
• Some knowledge of Linux networking, networking protocols and Python packaging
• Experience working with Robotics Processing Platforms such as Nvidia Jetson, RaspberryPi
• Experience developing and deploying with Docker
• Ability to travel twice a quarter to customer sites

Bonus points:

• Experience with cross-platform development, especially Windows or macOS
• Past experience working directly with customers
• LiDAR-based approaches for precise positioning
• Network programming experience
• Pybind11
• Experience with Jenkins or other CI/CD systems
• Experience with CMake, build, packaging
• Web assembly
• OpenGL
• Experience maintaining an open-source codebase
• Experience designing and implementing APIs for lidar, imaging, or other sensors

The base pay will be dependent on your skills, work experience, location, and qualifications. This role may also be eligible for equity & benefits.

We acknowledge the confidence gap at Ouster. You do not need to meet all of these

requirements to be the ideal candidate for this role.

Ouster is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that pursues and hires a diverse workforce. Ouster does not make employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military status, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. Ouster also strives for a healthy and safe workplace, and prohibits harassment of any kind. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Ouster considers qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.