Job Description
Cyngn is seeking a Senior / Staff Systems Engineer to lead system definition and architecture for autonomous vehicle and robotics platforms. This role is a senior, hands-on systems position responsible for converting high-level product requirements (L0/L1 user stories and product intent) into detailed, testable engineering specifications, architectures, and verification plans using a structured V-model systems engineering approach.
This is a generalist systems role spanning sensors, compute, power distribution, actuation, and safety-critical behaviors. The ideal candidate has deep experience in industrial robotics or vehicle systems, understands safety certification expectations, and can bridge product intent with disciplined engineering execution.
Responsibilities
- Translate L0/L1 product requirements and user stories into complete, unambiguous, and testable system and subsystem specifications (L2+).
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Define system architectures and interfaces for autonomous vehicle and robotics platforms, including:
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Sensors (perception and low-level feedback)
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Compute and embedded controllers
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Power distribution and protection
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Actuation and drive systems
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Own requirements decomposition, allocation, and traceability across mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software domains.
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Develop system-level verification and validation plans, including test strategies, acceptance criteria, and pass/fail definitions aligned with the systems engineering V-model.
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Lead technical trade studies, risk assessments, and architectural decisions with a focus on safety, reliability, and manufacturability.
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Act as the systems engineering point of contact for industrial safety certification, ensuring system requirements and test plans support compliance.
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Collaborate with product management, safety engineering, hardware, firmware, software, and test teams to ensure aligned execution.
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Drive cross-functional design reviews, requirements reviews, and system readiness milestones.
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Support integration, debugging, and validation of vehicle and robotic systems during development and deployment phases.
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Safety & Certification Responsibilities
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Incorporate industrial safety requirements into system architecture, requirements, and test planning.
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Support compliance efforts related to ANSI B56 standards for industrial trucks and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).
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Work closely with safety and compliance teams to define safety functions, fault responses, and operational limits.
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Ensure system behaviors are well-defined for normal operation, degraded modes, and fault conditions.
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Contribute to safety-related documentation, including requirements, test evidence, and certification support artifacts.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or related field.
8+ years of experience in systems engineering for complex electro-mechanical systems (robotics, vehicles, industrial automation, autonomy).
Strong experience translating product-level requirements into detailed engineering specifications and verification plans.
Solid understanding of industrial safety standards, particularly ANSI B56 and related AMR / industrial vehicle safety frameworks.
Hands-on familiarity with low-level sensors and feedback systems, including:
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Encoders (incremental, absolute)
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Angle and position sensors
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Temperature sensors
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Current and voltage sensing
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Working knowledge of motor systems and actuation, including:
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Motor commutation concepts (e.g., BLDC, PMSM)
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Feedback and control considerations
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Fault detection and protection
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Experience defining interfaces between sensors, embedded controllers, power electronics, and higher-level compute.
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Strong technical communication skills with the ability to clearly document and review complex system behavior.
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Comfortable working on-site 5 days per week in Mountain View, CA
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Preferred Qualifications
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Experience with autonomous mobile robots, industrial vehicles, or material handling equipment.
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Prior involvement in safety certification, audits, or compliance testing for industrial or robotic systems.
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Familiarity with system integration, bring-up, and hardware validation testing.
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Experience working in fast-paced product development environments with cross-functional teams.
Benefits & Perks
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Job Details
- Category
- Mechanical
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Mountain View, CA
- Posted
- Compensation
- $160,290 - $181,000 per year
About Cyngn
Automate your material handling and repetitive workflows with our Autonomous Tuggers and Forklifts. Our self-driving technology, DriveMod, is built on trusted, heavy-duty vehicles from legacy OEMs like Motrec and BYD to ensure that our self-driving industrial vehicles can do the most demanding industrial jobs, are familiar to operate and a breeze to maintain. Studies have shown that our deployments reduce labor costs by 64% and have made teams 33% more productive. That’s like adding an additional team member for every three workers at your facility — instantly. With DriveMod, Your Industrial Vehicles — • Safely navigate sites without the need for special infrastructure. • Leverage multiple, redundant, and intelligent layers of safety. • Execute missions based on a variety of flexible, programmable skills — including "auto-unhitch". • Be switched into manual mode and driven by a human. • Transport goods to any on-site location, indoors and outdoors. • Haul and tow thousands of pounds of heavy goods and cargo. • Execute missions based on a variety of flexible, programmable options. • Collect data and reveal suggestions for optimization. • Be remotely managed and monitored via the FMS or on-vehicle display.
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