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Principal, Systems Engineer - Compute Foundation

Ann Arbor, MI

About the Company

At Torc, we have always believed that autonomous vehicle technology will transform how we travel, move freight, and do business.

A leader in autonomous driving since 2007, Torc has spent over a decade commercializing our solutions with experienced partners. Now a part of the Daimler family, we are focused solely on developing software for automated trucks to transform how the world moves freight.

Join us and catapult your career with the company that helped pioneer autonomous technology, and the first AV software company with the vision to partner directly with a truck manufacturer.

Meet the Team:
Within the Technology organization, the Compute Foundation division is responsible for the design and provision of a cost-effective, scalable, automotive grade compute platform(s) with the ability to connect easily to the required sensors/devices, while maintaining stable interfaces to the applications.

The Compute Foundation organization achieves their goals, through the design, sourcing, development, build and delivery of a highly scalable Autonomous Driving Kit (AD Kit) including an automotive grade compute platform, cutting-edge sensor technologies, operating system(s), middleware, and software.

The integration will materialize first in an OEM-launched AD Kit for a Class 8 truck from DT, followed by a roll-out across OEM’s, by staying on-top of the technology evolution, challenging the status quo and pushing boundaries in the selection, development and integration of scalable hardware and software

What You’ll Do:
We are looking for a seasoned Principal Systems Engineer that will bring new ideas, optimizations, and best practices for the entire compute foundation organization. As a Principal Systems Engineer, you will work closely with directors, managers and engineers to deliver the foundation to host Torc’s high-quality safety-critical autonomous driving software.

The Principal Systems Engineer owns and drives the technical direction of the division on a systems level. This includes system, component, safety and cyber security design as well as the definition of the system engineering processes to allow efficient collaboration amongst the teams. The Principal Systems Engineer is establishing key technical milestones to provide a robust, scalable and long-lived solution, that aligns with current and future business objectives. As a Principal Systems Engineer, you will identify limitations early in the development and help to eliminate them to secure a smooth integration of the entire Autonomous Driving-Kit into the vehicle platform. As Principal Systems Engineer you will ensure production readiness of the Autonomous-Ready trucks in close collaboration with Torc’s OEM Partner, by applying industry best practices in combination with agile development practices

As a strategic thinker, the Principal Systems Engineer is staying on top of latest innovations and drive new ideas into the organization. He/she is also continuously reviewing internal developments and is proactively resolving technical roadblocks within the organization and beyond

  • Work collaboratively in Torc’s Principal Community and engineering leaders to mature a technical vision across the engineering division and drive technical direction into engineering departments
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to understand requirements and design scalable and maintainable system solutions for the broader engineering division
  • Set the technical direction and architectural guardrails for the division
  • Set the standards of technical excellence and rigor within the Compute Foundation department, in alignment with the engineering division.
  • Work with engineering leaders to drive standards of excellence into meaningful processes and practices of engineering
  • Provide technical leadership and guidance to engineering teams in the department promoting best practices, and ensuring adherence to industry standards and architectural principles
  • Participate in design and system reviews, providing constructive feedback to ensure high-quality solutions that adhere to established standards and practices
  • Provide mentorship and guidance to next-level engineers, and below, assisting in their technical growth and fostering a culture and learning and development within the department
  • Stay up to date with the latest industry trends, technologies and best practices for potential integration with existing solutions
  • Participate in project planning and collaborate with technical product managers on the priorities and customer expectations of the proposed system solutions
  • Participation in design reviews and problem-solving sessions as it relates to the scope of your influence
  • Understanding of trends and cutting-edge technologies of the industry, at times participating in conferences and other external engagements to further the company’s interest
  • Stride the balance of pragmatic and cutting edge to drive the technical direction of your division 
  • Troubleshoot and debug the most critical issues related to system integration, determining the root causes, implementing appropriate solutions, and setting up safeguards against reoccurrences 
  • Spend the personal development on the unsolved challenges of the division, pulling experts and learning new skills as necessary, better understand the direction of the division’s technology

 What You’ll Need to Succeed:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, Software or Robotics Engineering, or related field. Master’s Degree of PhD highly preferred.
  • Minimum 15 years of experience in engineering or related field with preference for robotic or software/hardware integration projects.
  • Strong experience with Real-time Systems, Linux, Networking and Virtualization.
  • Working knowledge with Embedded Systems Verification & Validation.
  • Strong technical communication skills, written and verbal, that scale to a diverse workforce
  • Strong ability to align technical objectives to business values and articulate the associated business value of technical work.
  • Ability to collaborate with teams both in person and virtually.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with evolving software/hardware infrastructure.
  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze and debug complex software and control system issues.
  • Experience in source control applications and agile workflows such as GITHUB and JIRA.
  • Strong time management and organizational skills to plan, develop, prioritize effectively, and maintain competing demands simultaneously with frequent interruptions and in a fast-paced environment.
  • Must possess a passion and the ability to develop and grow colleagues to their highest potential.
  • Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to build trust and strong working relationships, effectively create and proofread documents and reports, and communicate to a diverse workforce.
  • Keen attention to detail to identify problems and processes that don’t comply with protocol
  • Critical/logical thinking to identify problems and provide solutions to ensure efficiency, safety, and quality.
  • Strong business insight and judgment, team orientation and collaborative style
  • Ability to ethically handle sensitive and confidential information with impartiality and professionalism.
  • Requires transportation to locations away from the site. May have the opportunity for international travel requiring the ability to obtain a passport and appropriate documents.  
  • Requires continuous technical education and training with a passion for knowledge in the field of study to maintain the highest level of knowledge, ingenuity, and creative thinking

Bonus Points!

  • Hands on Mentality: Despite your role as a leader you don’t hesitate to get your own hands dirty on code

Perks of Being a Full-time Torc’r 

Torc cares about our team members and we strive to provide benefits and resources to support their health, work/life balance, and future. Our culture is collaborative, energetic, and team focused. Torc offers:    

  • A competitive compensation package that includes a bonus component and stock options  
  • 100% paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for full-time employees    
  • 401K plan with a 6% employer match  
  • Flexibility in schedule and generous paid vacation (available immediately after start date) 
  • Company-wide holiday office closures  
  • AD+D and Life Insurance 
Hiring Range for Job Opening 

US Pay Range

$195,500 - $234,600 USD

At Torc, we’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We celebrate the uniqueness of our Torc’rs and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, veteran status, or disabilities.

Even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications listed for this opportunity, we encourage you to apply. 

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