Software Safety Engineer

About the job

About Overland AI

Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Overland AI is transforming land operations for modern defense. The company leverages over a decade of advanced research in robotics and machine learning, as well as a field-test forward ethos, to deliver combined capabilities for unit commanders. Our OverDrive autonomy stack enables ground vehicles to navigate and operate off-road in any terrain without GPS or direct operator control. Our intuitive OverWatch C2 interface provides commanders with precise coordination capabilities essential for mission success.

Overland AI has secured funding from prominent defense tech investors including 8VC and Point 72, and built trusted partnerships with DARPA, the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command. Backed by eight-figure contracts across the Department of Defense, we are strengthening national security by iterating closely with end users engaged in tactical operations.

Role Summary

Overland AI is hiring a Software Systems Safety Engineer to lead software safety for our autonomous ground vehicles. You'll join our safety team within Systems, Safety, and Test Engineering (SST) and work directly with the autonomy software teams building perception, planning, and control.

Software is how our vehicles see, decide, and move, so software decides much of their safety. You'll find the safety-significant software functions, set the level of rigor each one needs, and produce the analysis and test evidence that shows the software is safe to field. Your work feeds our MIL-STD-882E safety programs, ATEC safety releases, and customer certifications.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify safety-significant software functions and assign software control categories and criticality per MIL-STD-882E and the Joint Software Systems Safety Engineering Handbook (JSSSEH).
• Plan and execute level-of-rigor tasks: safety analysis of software requirements, architecture, design, and code.
• Analyze autonomy software for hazardous behaviors, including perception errors, degraded sensors, timing and latency, and machine learning components.
• Derive software safety requirements and trace them to design, code, and verification.
• Partner with software engineers on safety-critical design, such as fault detection, fail safes, watchdogs, and safe-stop behavior.
• Define safety-specific software testing across simulation, software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, and field testing, and evaluate the results.
• Assess software changes and releases for safety impact before they reach the field.
• Triage software bugs for safety impact on the system, set their priority, and work with the software teams to drive safety-relevant issues to closure.
• Own the software safety content of the safety case and Safety Assessment Report, and represent it in ATEC and customer reviews.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, or a related discipline.
• A track record of independently performing software safety analysis under MIL-STD-882E/JSSSEH or an equivalent framework (e.g., DO-178C, ISO 26262 Part 6, IEC 61508-3).
• Ability to read C++ or Python and software architecture well enough to analyze design and code for safety.
• Experience managing requirements (Jama, Doors, Polarion) and issue tracking (JIRA)
• Experience supporting and guiding teams through Unit Testing, SW Integration Testing, and Embedded SW Testing,
• Sound, independent engineering judgment on risk, and the ability to explain it to software engineers and external reviewers.

Desired Qualifications & Experience

• Experience with autonomous systems, robotics, or ROS/ROS 2.
• Familiarity with safety of machine learning and autonomy (UL 4600, ISO 21448/SOTIF, ISO/PAS 8800).
• Experience supporting ATEC or other DoD software safety reviews.
• Experience with static analysis, code coverage, or SIL/HIL test tooling.
• Direct experience in the design and development of safety-critical software, autonomous vehicles or advanced ADAS applications.
• Software or Safety Certifications (ASPICE) or equivalent.

Location:

This role is located in Seattle, WA.

Compensation & Benefits:

Pay range:

****Software Safety Engineer: ****$170,000 - $225,000 annually

Actual base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Overland AI believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day. Benefits include:

• Equity compensation

• Best-in-class healthcare, dental and vision plans

• Flexible PTO

• 401k with company match

• Parental leave

Overland AI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, protected veteran or military status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

This position may involve access to export-controlled technology. Employment is contingent on the ability to comply with U.S. export control laws.

Overland AI provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans during the application process. Please contact peopleops@overland.ai to request an accommodation.