Staff Software Engineer, Automotive Networking
Join a high-performing team at Sonatus that’s redefining what cars can do in the era of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV).
At Sonatus, we’re driving the transformation to AI-enabled software-defined vehicles. Traditional automotive software methods can’t keep pace with consumer expectations shaped by the mobile industry—where features evolve rapidly, update seamlessly, and improve continuously. That’s why leading OEMs trust Sonatus to accelerate this shift. Our technology is already in production across more than 5 million vehicles on the road today and rapidly expanding.
Headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, with 250+ employees worldwide, Sonatus combines the agility of a fast-growing company with the scale and impact of an established partner. Backed by strong funding and proven by global deployment, we’re solving some of the most interesting and complex challenges in the industry. Join us and help redefine what’s possible as we shape the future of mobility.
We are looking for a highly motivated Staff Software Engineer, who is an automotive networking expert, to join our fast-growing team. As a part of a cross-functional team that is responsible for the full software development life cycle, you will have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies and products, from conception to deployment.
This is a hybrid role out of our Sunnyvale HQ, where you will be expected to work in our office 3 days a week. This role reports to our Manager of Engineering, Vehicle Development.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Serve as a tech lead leading a group of engineers in architecting, developing, and delivering in-vehicle Ethernet networking management software.
- Drive technical direction for network design, configuration, monitoring, and diagnostics modules.
- Mentor engineers and ensure adherence to software best practices and high-quality standards.
- Work closely with system architects, product managers, and hardware teams to translate product requirements into robust software components.
- Engage with automotive OEMs and Tier-1 partners to align on standards, diagnostics protocols, and network management interfaces.
- Contribute to product roadmaps and technical strategy in areas such as TSN (Time Sensitive Networking), SOME/IP, and service-oriented architectures.
- Stay current with evolving standards (IEEE, AUTOSAR Adaptive, OpenAlliance) and integrate relevant technologies into the product.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field.
- 7+ years of software development experience, with at least 3 years in automotive Ethernet networking, building in-vehicle networking software for major OEMs.
- Proven experience as a Tech Lead in software development.
- Deep understanding of automotive Ethernet, switch chip programming, and network configuration protocols.
- Hands-on experience with YANG modeling, NETCONF, and preferably CORECONF.
- Strong background in embedded systems, C/C++, and Linux-based development environments.
- Familiarity with TSN, SOME/IP, CAN/CAN-FD, and network diagnostics tools and standards.
- Understanding of network topologies, Automotive E/E Architecture, QoS management, and security in automotive networks(e.g. MACSEC).
- Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with the ability to inspire and guide a team of engineers.
- Experience in hands-on development and troubleshooting on embedded targets.
- Proven experience in system design involving multi-threading and concurrency.
Desired Skills and Experience
- MS/PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or related fields.
- Familiarity with Automotive CAN bus
- Familiarity with Unified Diagnostics Services over CAN or Ethernet.
- Proficient in Python or other scripting languages.
- Experience with automotive product development (e.g. CAN, AUTOSAR, FreeRTOS, etc.).
- Experience in project management and agile development methodologies.
- Past participation and contribution to OpenAlliance is strongly preferred
Benefits Offered:
- Competitive compensation and equity program
- Health care plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
- Flexible and Dependent Care Expense program
- Retirement plan (401k)
- Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
- Unlimited paid time off per year, 15 paid holidays
- Hybrid office work arrangement/flexibility
Perk Offerings include:
- Complimentary lunches, snacks, and beverages during on-site working days
- Wellness benefit allowances (towards gym membership and fitness programs)
- Internet reimbursement
- Computer Accessory Allowance
Employee Engagement Offerings:
- Departmental team building and outings
- Employee Referral Program
- Culture/Employee Satisfaction Surveys - Feedback matters!
The posted salary range is a general guideline and represents a good faith estimate of what Sonatus ("Company") could reasonably expect to pay for a base salary for this position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs. The Company reserves the right to modify this range in the future, as needed, as market conditions change.
Pay range for this role
$168,500 - $232,000 USD
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