Senior Staff Lidar Systems Architect

Who we are

Aurora’s mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly.

The Aurora Driver will create a new era in mobility and logistics, one that will bring a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future to everyone.

At Aurora, you will tackle massively complex problems alongside other passionate, intelligent individuals, growing as an expert while expanding your knowledge. For the latest news from Aurora, visit aurora.tech or follow us on LinkedIn.

What we are looking for

Aurora hires talented people with diverse backgrounds who are ready to help build a transportation ecosystem that will make our roads safer, get crucial goods where they need to go, and make mobility more efficient and accessible for all.

We’re searching for a Senior Staff Lidar Sensor Architect. This position will be responsible for defining the next-generation architecture of our high-performance lidar systems. The role will bridge the gap between high-level lidar performance requirements and practical hardware implementation. The primary focus of the position will be electrical and firmware partitioning and defining the interfaces between the photonic module of the lidar and the electrical and computing systems driving and supporting it, while optimizing for performance, scalability, and automotive reliability.

In this role you will

• Be responsible for the lidar sensor system architecture including functional decomposition, module definition, and electrical to photonic interface definition.


• Translate top-level functional requirements into detailed requirements for design teams including EE, ME, and FW


• Partner and collaborate with EE, Embedded FW/SW, integrated photonics, and ME design teams to balance tradeoffs between mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical requirements.


• Lead strategy for architectural evolution between lidar generations, particularly in EE and FW domains, to reduce cost, power, and size of sensor


• Drive initial bring-up and debugging for key electrical-to-photonic interfaces and modules.


• Author technical documentation including architecture diagrams, theory of operation documents, hardware/software interfaces, DFMEA, etc.     

Required qualifications

• PhD or MS in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field with 8+ years of relevant experience, or a BS with 12+ years of experience.


• Deep understanding of active sensors including lidar, radar, or spectral imaging systems.


• Proven track record of architecting complex sensing systems, specifically defining EE/FW partitions and high-speed data interfaces.


• Proficiency in system simulation and modeling and familiarity with high-performance FPGA/SoC architectures.

Desirable qualifications

• Experience with Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICS) and the unique challenges of integrating them with standard electronics OR experience with defining system architecture and specifications for sensor ASICs / ROICs and working with vendors on physical implementation.


• Experience taking high-performance sensors from initial R&D through mass manufacturing and field validation.


• Familiarity with ISO 26262, ASIL requirements, and AEC-Q100/200 component qualification.

The base salary range for this position is  $178,000 - $257,000 per Year. Aurora’s pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, the successful candidate’s starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, relevant education or training, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.