--- title: 'Lead AV Operator at Perrone Robotics' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/lead-av-operator-perrone-robotics-detroit-nqefv09xgnbt' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-18' --- # Lead AV Operator at Perrone Robotics - **Company:** Perrone Robotics - **Location:** Detroit, MI - **Compensation:** $65k–$75k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2024-04-01 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-18 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/perrone-robotics/b635075c-4015-4516-8f1b-de89cf803104 ## Job description Innovate...Build...Deliver! Autonomy Driven by Perrone. Perrone Robotics Inc. is a leading provider of fully autonomous vehicle systems. The Company has been a pioneer in the space of AV technology and developed the first autonomous shuttle with FULL AUTONOMOUS capabilities operating on a public road – for the public. We deliver mobility excellence through TONY® (short for “TO Navigate You”), a vehicle independent retrofit kit for use in the autonomous transit of people and goods. TONY embeds inside any vehicle for any job, to provide a complete “artificial driver” solution that brings full autonomy in a safety certifiable framework. Proven, piloted and in commercial production, our autonomous systems help commercial, municipal, and governmental customers increase transportation efficiencies, enhance safety, and accelerate zero-emission electric vehicle deployment. With over 37,000 automated miles of travel, 30 different vehicle types outfitted, and 200 plus years of development experience, our work is built around innovation, team collaboration, and a mission-driven environment focused on quality assurance and safety. Revenue generating, high-growth and agile, the Company is positioned to evolve the autonomous vehicle industry to the next level. Join us as we transform the world through efficient, reliable autonomous vehicle systems designed to empower lives, enable mobility, and revolutionize the world of autonomous transportation. We are looking for passionate individuals to join our fast-growing team. At Perrone Robotics you will have the opportunity to impact a company and industry while growing your career.  You'll find the work is exciting, fun, and very meaningful. Lead Autonomous Vehicle Operator in Detroit Join our innovative team at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology in Detroit! We are seeking a dynamic individual to lead a team of 6-8 Autonomous Vehicle Operators. In this pivotal role, you will not only operate autonomous vehicles but also play a key role in ensuring their seamless integration into urban environments by effectively communicating with city officials and stakeholders. Key Responsibilities: **Team Leadership**: Lead and mentor a team of 6-8 Autonomous Vehicle Operators, providing guidance and support to ensure optimal performance. **Safe and Efficient Operation**: Oversee the safe and efficient operation of autonomous vehicles, implementing best practices and protocols to maintain high standards of safety and performance. **Stakeholder Communication**: Foster positive relationships with city officials and stakeholders, acting as a liaison to address any operational issues or concerns and ensure compliance with local regulations. **Cross-Functional Collaboration**: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize vehicle performance, leveraging insights and feedback to drive continuous improvement initiatives. Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience. - Proven leadership experience, with a track record of effectively managing teams and driving results. - Strong communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to non-technical audiences. - Experience in autonomous vehicle operations or related fields preferred. - Knowledge of urban infrastructure and regulatory frameworks is a plus. Join us in shaping the future of transportation in Detroit and beyond. Apply now to be part of our dynamic team driving innovation in autonomous vehicle technology! Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they are welcome and have the opportunity to contribute. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, disability status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. ## About Perrone Robotics ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Perrone Robotics develops full-stack autonomous vehicle systems, including a patented AV software platform and a retrofit kit that turns ordinary vehicles into self-driving shuttles and cargo movers. - **Entity Type**: Private (funded startup; Series A rounds completed, plus a recent U.S. Department of Transportation grant) - **Headquarters**: Charlottesville, Virginia, USA (office also listed in Crozet, VA) - **Founded**: 2003 - **Founders**: Paul Perrone ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Autonomous vehicle technology / robotics / transportation - **Target customers**: B2B and enterprise – public transit agencies, automotive OEMs, fleets, and organizations needing autonomous shuttle or goods-transport services - **Mission statement**: "We transform the world through efficient, reliable, autonomous vehicle systems designed to empower lives, enable mobility, and evolve mankind." (from the careers page) ## Products & Services - **MAX Autonomy Software Platform**: Patented, full-stack AV software that serves as the company's core autonomy operating system; used for perception, mapping, vehicle dynamics, safety controls, and fleet deployment. - **TONY® Retrofit Kit**: "TO Navigate You" – a vehicle-independent, drop-in autonomy kit combining cameras, radars, LiDAR, and sensors to convert a wide variety of vehicles into autonomous vehicles for passenger and goods transit. - **AV Star Shuttle**: Developed with GreenPower Motor Company – described as the nation's first fully autonomous, zero-emissions, Buy America-compliant, ADA-compliant, FMVSS-certified shuttle vehicle for public-road deployment. - **Autonomous Electric Vehicles & Services**: Sales/leases of autonomous passenger and cargo vehicles (trucks, buses, shuttles), plus testing, commissioning, route mapping, operator training, and deployment support services. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company) - **Key Metric (Revenue)**: Approximately **$1.9M annual revenue** (reported as USD $1,855,453 per LinkedIn/Craft.co) - **Key Metric (Funding)**: ~**$12.6M total funding** across multiple rounds: - Series A (2016): $2.6M led by Intel Capital - Series A (2021): $10.0M led by CapStone Holdings - Grant (2025): U.S. Department of Transportation - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Intel Capital, CapStone Holdings, U.S. Department of Transportation, GreenPower Motor Company. Board includes Nolan Bushnell (Atari founder); Intel Capital's Mark Lydon serves as board observer. - **Growth Signals**: - 18+ years of company history, 100K+ autonomous miles driven, and 30+ different vehicle types supported - First fully autonomous shuttle solution to operate on public roads with Level 5 capability - Commercial deployments active with Fortune 500 companies, automotive OEMs, and tier-1 suppliers - Recent focus on bringing TONY shuttles and retrofit kits into production for global deployment ## Competitive Advantages - **Patented technology**: General-purpose robotics operating system patent filed in 2006, plus patented drop-in autonomy kit approach. - **Vehicle-independent retrofit model**: TONY can be installed on many vehicle types, reducing the need for bespoke hardware platforms. - **Early-mover credibility**: DARPA Grand Challenge and Urban Challenge semi-finalist team heritage; founder Paul Perrone was founding chairman of the SAE On-Road Automated Vehicle Standards Committee. - **Full-stack in-house capability**: From autonomy software to vehicle integration, testing, route mapping, and operator training. - **Strategic partnerships**: Intel Capital investment, GreenPower co-development, and federal grant support lend validation and market access. ## Strategic Focus - Accelerating the global deployment of efficient, reliable autonomous vehicles for both people and goods transit. - Scaling production of the turn-key TONY shuttle and TONY retrofit kit for commercial fleets and public transit operations. - Continuing to expand into zero-emissions, ADA-compliant, Buy America-compliant vehicle offerings for public-road use. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-driven workplace**: Team members work on technology that "makes the world safer, empowers people, and increases transportation efficiencies and productivity." - **Work environment ("RoboPark")**: Located at the North Fork innovation campus, a University of Virginia discovery park in Charlottesville – a 500-acre campus with dining, coffee, workout facilities, bike routes, and trails. - **Remote flexibility**: Remote work is an option for the right candidates, with tools including simulators, real-time virtual access to test-track AVs, telepresence, and instant video. - **Collaborative culture**: Emphasis on openness, integrity, transparency, and working with a "world class team of doers." - **Open roles**: Current areas include Software Engineer (autonomy software), QA Engineer/Trainer, and Systems Engineer – with travel opportunities to deployment sites. - **Equal opportunity focus**: Explicit commitment to fair treatment and valuing individuals from all backgrounds. - **Note for job seekers**: Independent employer reviews on LinkedIn show a mixed rating (2.5/5 from 11 reviews), with lower scores on work-life balance and culture but higher on compensation. It's worth researching further through interviews and conversations with current team members. ## Sources 1. [perronerobotics.com](https://www.perronerobotics.com/careers) 2. [perronerobotics.com](https://www.perronerobotics.com/about) 3. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/perrone-robotics) 4. [craft.co](https://craft.co/perrone-robotics) 5. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/perrone-robotics) 6. [jobs.lever.co](https://jobs.lever.co/perrone-robotics) ## Other roles at Perrone Robotics - [Sr. Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-software-engineer-perrone-robotics-charlottesville-vqke7spx8rzh) — Charlottesville, VA