Software Engineer, Runtime
Hybrid Santa Clara Full-time Mid-level Software Engineering
At a glance
Mid-level Software Engineering role at PlusAI. Santa Clara · full-time · $150,000–$180,000 base.
SalaryStated by PlusAI
$150,000 – $180,000
Base salary for this role, in USD per year, as published in the posting.
This role, from PlusAIOur estimate for the market: $155,875–$201,800Median $164,500
The range includes the market median of $164,500 for mid-level software engineering roles in Santa Clara.
Worked out from 18 postings that stated pay, median $164,500. Last updated Oct 20, 2026.
RoleSoftware Engineering
SeniorityMid-level
LocationSanta Clara
WorkplaceHybrid
EmploymentFull-time
Base pay$150,000–$180,000
PostedMar 13, 2025 · 1y ago
Role brief
techroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Improve the redundant vehicle platform alongside autonomy and runtime teams, including the software stack it supports
- Connect autonomous software components to the platform and tune their performance and reliability
- Build fault detection, recovery and validation approaches, including vehicle, SIL and HiL testing
- Assess partner middleware for the autonomy stack and develop driverless-operation features such as mission control and tele-assist
- Shape longer-term software and hardware redundancy plans, while meeting quality processes and improving them
What you bring
- At least two years of professional experience and a graduate degree in computer science or a related discipline
- Strong C++ and Python skills, with practical knowledge of high-performance IPC or middleware
- Experience troubleshooting performance through profiling or roofline analysis, plus familiarity with Linux and system tuning
- Comfort working with large codebases and diagnosing performance issues on vehicles
Who this fits
This mid-level role suits an engineer who can work across autonomous software, vehicle platforms and performance troubleshooting. The position is hybrid in Santa Clara, and includes hands-on vehicle work. Preferred background includes edge computer-vision inference, ROS2 and DDS, automotive HPC systems, or QNX.
From the employer
PlusAI is a Physical AI company pioneering AI-based virtual driver software for factory-built autonomous trucks. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with operations in the United States and Europe, Plus was named by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Partners including TRATON GROUP’s Scania, MAN, and International brands, Hyundai Motor Company, Iveco Group, Bosch, and DSV are working with Plus to accelerate the deployment of next-generation autonomous trucks. If you’re ready to make a huge impact and drive the future of autonomy, Plus is looking for talented individuals to join its fast-growing teams.
Responsibilities:
- Work closely with our autonomy and runtime teams to improve our redundant on-vehicle platform and autonomous software stack.
- Develop perspectives on where opportunities and gaps might be in our redundant software and hardware strategy with a longer-term horizon in mind
- Integrate and optimize performance and robustness of different autonomous software component into redundant on-vehicle platform.
- Design and develop fault detection and fault handling strategies for redundant on-vehicle platform.
- Design and develop validation strategies for redundant on-vehicle platform, including on vehicle testing, Sil and HiL simulation testing.
- Evaluate, integrate and optimize partner middleware into our AD stackOwns or help with driverless operation key features, like mission control, tele assist, etc.
- Ensure that your work is performed in accordance with the company’s Quality Management System (QMS) requirements and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.
- Ensure team compliance with QMS, monitor quality, and drive process improvements.
Required Skills:
- Minimum 2+ years of professional experience
- MS or PhD in Computer Science or related field
- Strong programming skills in C++ and Python
- Basic understanding of computer vision and deep learning models
- Hands-on experience of high performance IPC / middleware stack
- Strong analytical skills, especially for performance troubleshooting (e.g. profiling, roofline model)
- Familiarity with CUDA, OpenCL, OpenVX, Halide or other SIMD programming models.
- Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technology
- Ability to work on large code bases and a fast growing environment
- Strong communication skills
- Familiar with Linux system and basic kernel tuning, network tuning, device tree tuning, timesync, etc.
- Comfortable with On-vehicle troubleshooting and performance profiling
Preferred Skills
- Experience with CV pipeline and model inference on edge platforms
- Experience with ROS2 and DDS
- Experience with automotive HPC SoCs (Nvidia preferred)
- Experience with QNX
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