Systems and Safety Engineer
US$160,000 – US$240,000 / yr base salary
Posted 4 Sep 2026
Advertised as “Senior Systems & Safety Engineer – Drive-by-Wire ”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Expected experience
- 6+ yrs
- Management level
- Individual contributor
- Employment
- On-Site
| Base salary | US$160,000 – US$240,000 / yr |
|---|
Field of studyAutomotive Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics
Study levelBachelor's or higher
Who we are
Gatik, the leader in autonomous middle-mile logistics, is revolutionizing the B2B supply chain with its autonomous transportation-as-a-service (ATaaS) solution and prioritizing safe, consistent deliveries while streamlining freight movement by reducing congestion. The company focuses on short-haul, B2B logistics for Fortune 500 retailers and in 2021 launched the world’s first fully driverless commercial transportation service with Walmart. Gatik's Class 3-7 autonomous trucks are commercially deployed across major markets, including Texas, Arkansas, and Ontario, Canada, driving innovation in freight transportation.
The company's proprietary Level 4 autonomous technology, Gatik Carrier™, is custom-built to transport freight safely and efficiently between pick-up and drop-off locations on the middle mile. With robust capabilities in both highway and urban environments, Gatik Carrier™ serves as an all-encompassing solution that integrates advanced software and hardware powering the fleet, facilitating effortless integration into customers' logistics operations.
About the role
The Drive-by-Wire (DbW) system is the critical execution boundary where software decisions meet physical vehicle dynamics. As the Senior Systems & Safety Engineer for Drive-by-Wire, you will be responsible for the safety design, hazard mitigation, and functional safety integration of steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, throttle, shift-by-wire, and auxiliary chassis actuation on Gatik’s autonomous trucks. You will work closely with vehicle OEMs, DbW suppliers, and internal controls engineers to guarantee fail-operational motion control and ASIL D safety guarantees.
This role is onsite 5 days a week at our Santa Clara, CA office!
What you'll do
Key Responsibilities
- DbW Safety Architecture: Define the functional safety architecture for redundant steering, braking, and propulsion control systems integrated into Gatik’s vehicle platforms.
- OEM & Actuation Integration: Collaborate with commercial vehicle OEMs and Tier-1 DbW providers to evaluate DbW interfaces, safety manuals, and functional safety compliance (ISO 26262).
- Fault Reaction & Degraded Modes: Establish actuation fault management strategies, including fallback transition times, emergency stop execution, dynamic authority limits, and minimum risk maneuvers (MRM).
- System Analysis & Diagnostics: Perform detailed HARA, FMEA, and FTA analyses on physical actuation channels and interface protocols.
- Safety Requirements Traceability: Author top-level vehicle safety requirements for motion control interfaces and trace them to DbW controller firmware, CAN signals, and safety monitors.