Sr. Embedded Software Architect - Autonomy

Job DescriptionARi, headquartered in East Peoria, IL, USA, is a rapidly expanding global engineering enterprise. The essence of our "i" symbolizes our distinctiveness from competitors - an embodiment of innovation, intelligence, ingenuity, and insight. Boasting a diverse team of over 1,500 engineering experts hailing from various nations and cultures across the globe, we are excellently poised to provide intricate and personalized resolutions to our esteemed clients.Duties & ResponsibilitiesLead the design, development, and ownership of major autonomy software components across perception, localization, planning, control, or platform layersDefine and influence software architecture for scalable, reliable, and maintainable autonomy systemsTranslate algorithmic concepts and research prototypes into production-grade, real-time softwareServe as a technical leader by establishing coding standards, best practices, and design patternsMentor and guide junior and mid-level engineers through design reviews, code reviews, and technical coachingCollaborate with robotics, controls, AI/ML, simulation, systems, and safety teams to deliver end-to-end autonomy capabilitiesDrive integration of autonomy software with sensors, actuators, compute platforms, and vehicle networks (e.g., CAN, Ethernet)Lead debugging and root-cause analysis for complex issues observed in simulation, HIL, or field deploymentsEnsure software quality through automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, performance optimization, and documentationContribute to technical roadmaps, risk assessments, and long-term platform strategyWork in an Agile team environment with daily stand-ups, planning meetings, and cross-functional collaborationEducation / ExperienceBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Robotics, or a related field (Master's preferred) or equivalent experience5+ years of professional software development experience, with strong focus on autonomy, robotics, or real-time systemsExperience in roles such as Senior C++ Software Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer, or Systems Software Engineer is highly relevantInternships are not considered as qualifying experienceRequired SkillsCore Technical SkillsStrong expertise in C++ (required) and proficiency in PythonProven experience designing and maintaining large-scale, production-grade software systemsDeep understanding of Linux-based development, multithreading, memory management, and performance optimizationExperience with autonomy or robotics middleware (e.g., ROS/ROS2 or similar frameworks)Hands-on experience with sensor systems (LiDAR, cameras, radar, sensor fusion)Familiarity with motion planning, control algorithms, state estimation, or mappingExperience with simulation, HIL, SIL, or synthetic data pipelinesExperience integrating software with vehicle networks (CAN, Ethernet)Exposure to embedded systems, real-time constraints, or edge/GPU computingKnowledge of safety-oriented development practices, reliability engineering, or functional safety conceptsAdditional SkillsExperience working with distributed systems or middleware architecturesBackground in off-highway, automotive, construction, mining, or industrial autonomy systemsExperience working in cross-functional, multi-team engineering environmentsSoft SkillsStrong technical communication, design documentation, and code review skillsAbility to work effectively in globally distributed teamsMentorship and leadership capabilities to support team growthStrong problem-solving and analytical thinking skillsThe Benefits of Working at ARiAt ARi, our commitment to our employees goes beyond the workplace, ensuring comprehensive benefits. From day one, full-time employees enjoy group health, dental, and life insurance coverage. Additionally, vision coverage is accessible starting the following month.Recognizing the significance of rejuvenation, we provide paid time off, sick days, company holidays, and maternity/paternity leave to our full-time staff. In times of loss, we also offer bereavement support. Furthermore, a