Vehicle Operator II, Autonomy Systems Validation (1st Shift)

Operator Training, Coaching & Mentorship

• Assist the Operations Coordinator in preparing training materials, conducting onboarding programs, and delivering hands-on driving and safety instruction for new vehicle operators.
• Continuously evaluate vehicle operator performance, provide real-time coaching on disengagement protocols, defensive driving, and test procedures, and reinforce high safety standards.
• Guide operators on standard operational workflows, proper logging procedures, software flashing methods, and vehicle prep standards.
• Act as the primary on-shift floor point of contact for driver questions, fostering a culture of continuous learning, psychological safety, and open feedback. Testing Operations
• Safely operate prototype test vehicles in autonomous, semi-autonomous, and manual modes across diverse weather, traffic, and road conditions for up to 8 hours daily.
• Maintain constant situational awareness and safety vigilance, executing manual disengagements and safety interventions seamlessly when necessary.
• Perform pre-defined test cases, specialized driving scenarios, and edge-case evaluations on public roads and closed-course test facilities.

Ground Support & Fleet Operations

• Support the Operations Coordinator by assisting with daily shift handovers, driver shift readiness, route assignments, and vehicle allocations.
• Conduct and supervise pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections, basic system checks, hardware setups, and sensor calibrations/cleanings prior to test runs.
• Track vehicle health, coordinate routine maintenance or repair appointments with service technicians, and manage fleet charging logistics to ensure maximum vehicle availability.
• Oversee the daily end-of-shift data logging process, managing onboard hardware, offloading system data to local edge hardware/cloud servers, and verifying transfer integrity for engineering analysis.
• Maintain site/shop floor readiness, test equipment, tooling, and sensor platforms to ensure a safe, clean, and efficient testing environment.

System Diagnostics & Technical Escalation

• Perform basic system diagnostics, guide operators through initial troubleshooting and perform/verify Over-The-Air software updates.
• Identify, isolate, and debug hardware, software, and sensor anomalies, creating detailed tickets (via Jira/issue-tracking systems) and escalating critical issues to cross-functional engineering teams.
• Compose clear, thorough, and concise post-drive reports, operational logs, and safety feedback to communicate system behavior and edge cases.

Must be able to work 1st Shift (6:00a - 2:30p)

• 2+ years of professional automotive driving, autonomous vehicle testing, or vehicle fleet operations, with demonstrated informal or formal experience coaching, mentoring, or training peers.
• Excellent interpersonal, coaching, written, and verbal communication skills; ability to deliver constructive feedback and explain complex technical concepts simply.
• Proven ability to maintain high focus while driving or monitoring autonomous systems (solo or with a partner) for 6-8 hours per day in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to lift, maneuver, and move up to 50 lbs and remain active across shop floors, proving grounds, or field testing sites.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% for off-site field testing campaigns and flexibility to work overtime, non-standard shifts, or weekends as testing schedules require.
• Proficiency with laptops, smartphones, and enterprise collaboration tools (Google Docs, Sheets, Maps).

Preferred / Bonus Qualifications

• Prior formal experience as a Driver Trainer, Lead Safety Driver, or Operations Lead in AV testing, proving grounds, or commercial fleet environments.
• Hands-on experience with Jira, Confluence, or equivalent engineering ticketing platforms.
• Familiarity with Linux/Unix navigation, embedded software flashing, CAN networks, and hardware/electrical diagnostics.
• Prior experience testing or supporting Level 4 autonomous driving systems.