Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator
Outrider - Brighton, CO
posted 2 days ago
About the position
The Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator reports to the Shift Manager and helps test, operate, maintain, and evaluate the Outrider System, a first-of-its-kind product designed to automate the world's largest distribution yards. The Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator is primarily responsible for the safe operation of AVs - which may operate in manual, partial-automation or full-automation modes - and therefore is the authority on identifying and correcting potential safety risks during operation. Additionally, responsibilities include monitoring the vehicle and driving environment; determining whether and how to return the vehicle to a minimum-risk condition; and intervening in automated driving tasks to resume manual or computer control for safety and performance assessment purposes. This is a hands-on role requiring acute attentiveness to the vehicle system during operation, as well as constant observations of its performance both in the cab and via a software-based dispatching/monitoring tool. The successful candidate will enjoy a dynamic work environment, has strong focus and attention to detail, is comfortable making fast and sound decisions with a safety-first mindset. This position plays an essential role in helping deliver a safety-critical system for industrial automation. The opportunity offers the successful candidate the chance to help develop a market-defining enterprise product that combines robotics technology with a software-as-a-service (SaaS) business model.
Responsibilities
- Safely operate vehicles, either in the cab or remotely via a web-based dispatching/monitoring user interface, for 10+ hours per day
- Conduct daily on-site safety inspections of the vehicles, equipment, and area, and proactively propose safety improvements
- Determine appropriate on-the-spot responses to vehicle performance and safety issues
- Provide insightful and thorough verbal and/or written test reports on system performance for Engineering, Vehicle Operations, Customer Success and Executive staff
- Perform preventative maintenance checks and services on autonomous vehicles
- Assist commercial, operations, and engineering teams in root-cause analysis of issues found during operation
- Perform minor repairs under the direction of engineering staff and/or in accordance with OEM repair instructions
- Communicate issues and subjective performance to the AV Dispatchers, Test Operations Lead and peers on the Engineering teams
- Comply with established safety rules, policies and procedures, including wearing required safety equipment
- Be flexible around occasional travel to perform fieldwork, depending on customer locations and needs (up to 20%)
Requirements
- Desire and ability to understand Outrider's autonomous vehicle system and technology through the constant reading of documentation and Q&A with colleagues
- Ability to back a trailer into a dock spot or parking spot
- Clean driving record for the past 5 years
- Flexibility for day, night, and/or weekend work, as needed (and sometimes on short notice)
- Unwavering focus on safety and helping to explore and implement system improvements
- Facility with desktop software and web applications
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Contagious energy and positivity in relationships and interactions
Nice-to-haves
- Experience testing reliability or durability of robotic systems, autonomous vehicles, or other automated distribution yard products
- Understanding of the software development life cycle, modern software/hardware/system testing methods, and continuous integration
- Experience working in a highly talented R&D or engineering environment
- Familiarity and comfort with IT software packages such as MS Office, Google Suite, Linux and command-line interface/CLI
- CDL-A license
Benefits
- Hourly Wage: $22.00 - $27.00
- Equity: Equity package commensurate on experience and skills
- Benefits: Full health benefits
