---
title: 'Systems Engineer (Functional Safety) – Compute Platform Systems at Torc Robotics'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/systems-engineer-functional-safety-compute-platform-systems-torc-robotics-ann-dkvz7jjrrb6q'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-09'
---

# Systems Engineer (Functional Safety) – Compute Platform Systems at Torc Robotics

- **Company:** Torc Robotics
- **Location:** Ann Arbor, MI
- **Compensation:** $132k–$159k
- **Posted:** 2026-07-10
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/torcrobotics/jobs/8620701002

## Job description

## About the Company

At Torc, we have always believed that autonomous vehicle technology will transform how we travel, move freight, and do business. A leader in autonomous driving since 2007, Torc has spent over a decade commercializing our solutions with experienced partners. [Now a part of the Daimler family](https://torc.ai/daimler-testing-automated-trucks-public/), we are focused solely on developing software for automated trucks to transform how the world moves freight. Join us and catapult your career with the company that helped pioneer autonomous technology and the first AV software company with the vision to partner directly with a truck manufacturer.

Meet the Team

Join the Compute Platform Systems Team, where we provide systems engineering to enable component development and integration alongside cybersecurity and functional safety leadership for components and platform integration. Your role will make significant impacts on the future of trucking and autonomous technology as we look to Drive the Future of Freight. We are currently seeking a Functional Safety Systems Engineer who is enthusiastic about thriving in a hands-on environment and ready to grow with the team.

What You’ll Do

The Functional Safety Systems Engineer on the Compute Platform Systems team will be responsible for providing functional safety systems engineering analysis, assessments, and collaboration to help establish a functional safety case for our autonomous truck. This role will be working across teams involved with development and commercialization of software, hardware, and infrastructure.

- Support the development of all Compute Platform components (embedded compute, data logger, LiDAR, radar, camera, microphone, IMU, power distribution, etc).
- Lead design discussions in functional safety spanning across hardware, software, validation, and operations.
- Derive safety requirements, ensuring system architectures and designs meet safety concepts and best practices.
- Conduct Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessments (HARA) to define and refine safety goals.
- Perform inductive and deductive safety analyses, including Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Dependent Failure Analysis (DFA), among others.
- Collaborate with Sensors and Base Hardware teams to progress safety analysis and deliverables with automotive Tier-1 suppliers.
- Maintain requirements databases using both DOORS and Jama, ensuring accuracy and traceability.
- Develop verification and validation strategies against safety requirements by collaborating with the Component Enablement team.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

- Bachelor's degree in Systems/Electrical/Software/Computer Engineering, Robotics, or related field and 4+ years of experience OR Master’s degree in a related field and 0-3 years of experience.
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
- Experience in an automotive-related field.
- Experience developing functional safety requirements.
- Strong understanding of ISO 26262 (FUSA) and ISO 21448 (SOTIF).
- Broad understanding of engineering fundamentals in software, networking, electrical, and mechanical systems and system components.
- Familiarity with functional safety analysis processes (HAZOP, FMEA, STPA, FTA).
- An open mind and ability to apply functional safety concepts in novel ways to novel L4 autonomous driving applications.
- Excellent engineering communication skills in both written documentation and verbal presentation, especially the ability to communicate complex technical issues to a diverse team.
- Willingness and ability to work across teams, geographies, and time zones.

Bonus Points

- Passionate about collaboration.
- Software / Hardware engineering experience.
- Expertise with various sensor modalities (LiDAR, camera, radar, etc).
- Expertise with motion control systems.
- Experience with Jira.
- Experience with Autonomous Vehicles or ADAS safety concepts.

## Perks of Being a Full-time Torc’r

Torc cares about our team members, and we strive to provide benefits and resources to support their health, work/life balance, and future. Our culture is collaborative, energetic, and team-focused. Torc offers:

- A competitive compensation package that includes a bonus component and stock options
- 100% paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for full-time employees
- 401K plan with a 6% employer match
- Flexibility in schedule and generous paid vacation (available immediately after start date)
- AD+D and Life Insurance

At Torc, we’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We celebrate the uniqueness of our Torc’rs and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, veteran status, or disabilities. Even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications listed for this opportunity, we encourage you to apply.

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several geographic markets. Pay is based on a number of factors and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Torc's total compensation package will also include our corporate bonus and stock option plan. Depending on the position offered, sign-on payments, relocation, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. Hiring Range for Job Opening US Pay Range $132,400—$158,900 USD

## About Torc Robotics

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Torc Robotics is an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck developing SAE Level 4 autonomous driving software for long-haul, hub-to-hub freight trucks.
- **Entity Type**: Private (subsidiary of Daimler Truck)
- **Headquarters**: Blacksburg, Virginia, USA (additional offices in Fort Worth, TX; Ann Arbor, MI; Montréal, Canada)
- **Founded**: 2005 (as Torc Technologies)
- **Founders**: Group of Virginia Tech alumni (team from the DARPA Urban Challenge)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Autonomous vehicle technology / Trucking & freight logistics
- **Target customers**: B2B – large fleet operators and trucking companies (middle-mile hub-to-hub routes over 250 miles)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: “Drive the future of freight” by commercializing safe, self-driving trucks

## Products & Services
- **Torc Self-Driving Software**: Full-stack autonomy system (perception, planning, control) for SAE Level 4 operation, integrated into the Daimler Truck Freightliner Cascadia platform.
- **Autonomous-Ready Cascadia**: A redundant chassis with fail-safe steering, braking, power net, and secondary communications network built by Daimler Truck.
- **Testing & Validation**: Closed-course and public-road testing in Virginia, Texas, New Mexico, and 20+ U.S. states over the past 14 years.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (private subsidiary of Daimler Truck)
- **Key Metric**: Commercial launch targeted for **2027**; first driverless (no safety driver) journey completed in **2025**. Acquired Algolux (Montréal) in 2023 for computer vision and ML expertise.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Daimler Truck (parent/owner), AAA (safety partnership), Transdev (shuttle partnership), Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, and major fleet operators.
- **Growth Signals**: Expanding into Canada (Montréal office); headcount growing with 54 open positions posted on Greenhouse; Daimler Truck is building production-ready autonomous Cascadia chassis; years of real-world testing.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Deep truck OEM relationship**: As an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck, Torc has direct integration into the leading Class 8 truck platform (Freightliner Cascadia).
- **20-year legacy**: Founded in 2005 from DARPA Urban Challenge roots; one of the first AV software companies to focus exclusively on trucking.
- **Safety-first design**: Redundant steering, braking, and communications, plus a partnership with AAA on safety criteria.
- **Focused product**: Targets only highway middle-mile (250+ miles), avoiding complex city driving – a clear, commercially viable use case.

## Strategic Focus
- **Commercialization**: First market-ready generation of self-driving trucks on sale in **2027**. Currently validating the system on public roads with safety drivers.
- **Scaling operations**: Expanding engineering centers (Montréal, Ann Arbor, Fort Worth) and building a robust data/ML pipeline at petabyte scale.
- **Talent development**: Growing “Emerging Talent” program (co-ops, internships, early career) and partnerships with educational institutions.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Described as collaborative, ego-free, and innovative. “Everyone is empowered to solve challenges.” Open forums and accessible leadership.
- **Remote/Hybrid**: Multiple remote positions available (U.S. and Canada), plus on-site roles in Blacksburg, Ann Arbor, Fort Worth, and Montréal.
- **Benefits (U.S.)**:
  - 100% company-paid employee premiums for medical, dental, vision
  - Generous front-loaded PTO, plus a winter shutdown (Christmas–New Year)
  - Fully paid parental leave (100% salary continuation)
  - 401(k) with company match, LTD/STD, life insurance, pet insurance, legal services
- **Benefits (Canada)**: Extended health/dental/vision, RRSP with DPSP matching, employer-paid life/AD&D, LTD.
- **Engineering culture**: Work on cutting-edge autonomy, perception, ML, and data infrastructure alongside world-class experts.

## Sources
1. [torc.ai/about-us](https://torc.ai/about-us/)
2. [torc.ai/careers](https://torc.ai/careers/)
3. [torc.ai/frequently-asked-questions](https://torc.ai/frequently-asked-questions/)
4. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/torcrobotics](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/torcrobotics)

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