Senior Hardware Engineer

Latitude AI (lat.ai) develops automated driving technologies, including L3, for Ford vehicles at scale. We’re driven by the opportunity to reimagine what it’s like to drive and make travel safer, less stressful, and more enjoyable for everyone.

When you join the Latitude team, you’ll work alongside leading experts across machine learning and robotics, cloud platforms, mapping, sensors and compute systems, test operations, systems and safety engineering – all dedicated to making a real, positive impact on the driving experience for millions of people. 

As a Ford Motor Company subsidiary, we operate independently to develop automated driving technology at the speed of a technology startup. Latitude is headquartered in Pittsburgh with engineering centers in Dearborn, Mich., and Palo Alto, Calif.

Meet the team:

The hardware sensing team is responsible for the benchmarking, characterizing, and nomination and integration of all sensors. We work cross functionally with systems, perceptions, vehicle integration to ensure the sensors meet Latitude’s ODD requirements, perception requirements, and that it is integrable and reliable in Ford’s series vehicles. We are expected to understand sensing from a first principle approach and to ensure those principles are designable and manufacturable.  We keep a breadth of all sensing technology, sensing vendors, and integration technologies. Members of the team are expected to be highly multidisciplinary, as successful sensor integration requires expert understanding and comfortability of concepts across many disciplines–from hardware and software.

What you’ll do: 

• Test Strategy & Compliance: Lead the development of Design Verification (DV) and Production Validation (PV) plans. Ensure all hardware-level testing aligns with Ford automotive standards (CETP) and international standards such as ISO 16750 and ISO 26262
• Sensor Validation: Execute and oversee comprehensive testing for sensing modalities including Camera (optics/image quality), Radar (RF performance), Lidar (point cloud accuracy), IMU, and GPS/GNSS
• Reliability Engineering: Conduct environmental and mechanical stress testing (thermal cycling, vibration/shock, humidity, ingress protection, and EMC/EMI) to determine Mean Time To Failure (MTTF) and ensure 10-year/150,000-mile durability
• Vendor & Lab Management: Act as the primary technical point of contact for Tier 1 suppliers and external test labs. Manage the statement of work (SOW), audit lab setups, and ensure external testing is executed to Ford’s precision requirements
• Test Automation & Scripting: Develop and maintain automated test scripts (Python, MATLAB, or Bash) to streamline data acquisition, sensor calibration, and post-processing of large datasets
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Review and interpret complex test results. Perform root cause analysis (RCA) on hardware failures and work closely with design teams to implement hardware revisions
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Mentor junior engineers and collaborate with Systems Engineering, Perception Teams, and Manufacturing to ensure sensor hardware integrates seamlessly into the vehicle platform

What you'll need to succeed:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics or a related field and 4+ years of relevant experience (or Master's degree and 2+ years of relevant experience, or PhD)
• Minimum of seven years of professional experience in hardware testing or reliability engineering.
• Extensive experience testing sensing technologies such as cameras, radar, lidar
• Proficiency in writing scripts using Python or similar languages for data analysis and automation.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects involving external laboratories and global suppliers.
• Expertise in applying standardized automotive engineering test procedures for environmental and mechanical durability.
• Strong analytical skills for identifying the root cause of hardware malfunctions in automotive electronics.

Nice to have:

• Direct experience in hardware product development for automotive with a focus on sensing products
• Direct experience/exposure to product development of silicon products such as transceivers, imagers, MCUs
• Manufacturing or industrialization of electronics products

What we offer you:

• Competitive compensation packages
• High-quality individual and family medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health savings account with available employer match
• Employer-matched 401(k) retirement plan with immediate vesting
• Employer-paid group term life insurance and the option to elect voluntary life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Paid medical leave
• Unlimited vacation
• 15 paid holidays
• Daily lunches, snacks, and beverages available in all office locations
• Pre-tax spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Monthly wellness stipend
• Adoption/Surrogacy support program
• Backup child and elder care program
• Professional development reimbursement
• Employee assistance program
• Discounted programs that include legal services, identity theft protection, pet insurance, and more
• Company and team bonding outlets: employee resource groups, quarterly team activity stipend, and wellness initiatives

Learn more about Latitude’s team, mission and career opportunities at lat.ai!

The expected base salary range for this full-time position in California is $160,000 - $240,000 USD. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Latitude employees are also eligible to participate in Latitude’s annual bonus programs, equity compensation, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.

Candidates for positions with Latitude AI must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is available for this position.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status.