Senior Software Engineer, Human-Robot Interaction (Autonomous Vehicles)
May MobilityAbout the role
May Mobility is transforming cities through autonomous technology to create a safer, greener, more accessible world. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, May develops and deploys autonomous vehicles (AVs) powered by our innovative Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) technology that literally reimagines the way AVs think.
Our vehicles do more than just drive themselves - they provide value to communities, bridge public transit gaps and move people where they need to go safely, easily and with a lot more fun. We’re building the world’s best autonomy system to reimagine transit by minimizing congestion, expanding access and encouraging better land use in order to foster more green, vibrant and livable spaces. Since our founding in 2017, we’ve given more than 300,000 autonomy-enabled rides to real people around the globe. And we’re just getting started. We’re hiring people who share our passion for building the future, today, solving real-world problems and seeing the impact of their work. Join us.
About the Role
We’re looking for an experienced Engineer with deep expertise in human-robot interaction (HRI), particularly in mixed-initiative systems where control is shared between remote human operators and autonomous vehicles (AVs).
In this role, you’ll play a critical part in designing, building, and validating real-time interfaces and decision-making frameworks that allow humans to effectively supervise and assist in autonomous driving behavior. Whether you’re leading as an experienced IC or driving progress through technical leadership and mentoring, your work will directly impact the safety, scalability, and user experience of our AV system.
Responsibilities
- Architect and develop systems for shared autonomy, including remote supervision, teleoperation escalation paths, and operator assistive controls
- Partner with autonomy, UX, and operations teams to design robust, human-centered AV workflows
- Identify and implement best practices for operator intent recognition, decision support, and assistive control strategies
- Lead or collaborate on field validation and simulation efforts with our real-world fleet
- Serve as a technical thought partner across operations, product and engineering, with optional people leadership responsibilities depending on interest or experience
Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in robotics, AVs, or real-time human-in-the-loop systems
- PhD or MS in Robotics, HCI, or HRI
- Hands-on experience with mixed-initiative or shared-control systems in production environments
- Strong software engineering skills (e.g., Rust, C++, Python), with the ability to work in real-time, high-reliability systems
- Proven ability to deliver safety-critical features and operator interfaces in autonomous or robotic systems
- Strong cross-functional communication skills with the ability to collaborate across autonomy, design, and operations teams
Nice to Have
- Experience in automotive autonomy, AV fleet operations, or remote assist tools
- Familiarity with AV workflows and live teleoperation systems
- Knowledge of safety cases, HMI design, or regulatory aspects of AV deployments
- Academic background or publications in HRI, robotics, or human-centered systems
- Experience working with distributed real-time systems, especially those supporting low-latency human-in-the-loop decision making
Why Join Us
- Play a key role in shaping the interaction between humans and autonomous vehicles at scale
- Contribute to a high-impact mission in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary team
- Work on one of the most exciting challenges in autonomy: making humans and AVs better together
Benefits and Perks
- Comprehensive healthcare suite including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability plans. Domestic partners who have been residing together at least one year are also eligible to participate.
- Health Savings and Flexible Spending Healthcare and Dependent Care Accounts available.
- Rich retirement benefits, including an immediately vested employer safe harbor match.
- Generous paid parental leave as well as a phased return to work.
- Flexible vacation policy in addition to paid company holidays.
- Total Wellness Program providing numerous resources for overall wellbeing
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